Armenian investigators have denied a request allowing Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to travel to Georgia to attend the funeral of Georgian Patriarch Ilia II, his lawyer said on Saturday.
Attorney Ara Zohrabyan said he had submitted a motion seeking permission for the Catholicos to leave Armenia for several days to participate in the funeral ceremony and a divine liturgy scheduled for March 22, following an official invitation from the Georgian Orthodox Church.
The request was rejected by the investigator, Zohrabyan said, calling the decision “absolutely unlawful” and warning it could harm Armenia’s international reputation.
Ilia II, the long-serving head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, died on Tuesday aged 93.
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