"Gather before the court, do not let them imprison Archbishop Michael." Vardan Ghukasyan

The founder of the DOK party, Vardan Ghukasyan, sent a message in support of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan: “Today I learned that on September 15, the trial of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, the leader of the Shirak diocese, will take place in the Avan court. I find it difficult to remember a period in history when clergymen were tried. I am surprised by the silent behavior of today's politicians and the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II. I urge them to ring the bells of Etchmiadzin on that day and march on foot with all the clergy to the capital, Yerevan, to Avan.

I appeal to all my like-minded people, followers, friends near and far, even those whom I have told to stay in the shadows, not to be seen, I also appeal to them, to everyone: on that day, everyone should go, gather in front of the Avan courthouse and not allow state terror to be carried out and a corrupt and bribed judge to try to imprison a high-ranking clergyman.

I ask all schoolchildren, students, and young people to leave their classes that day and head to the court. I am not a believer, but I cannot allow them to try to judge such a pure person.

"Therefore, I ask all of you to go, gather in front of the court, so that the whole world can see that in the Republic of Armenia a clergyman is being tried for free speech. If I were free, Ajapahyan would not have been tried."