Decision to lift the preventive measure applied to His Holiness Karekin II not

Aysor, Armenia
April 13 2026

The Criminal Court of First Instance of Yerevan, presided over by Judge Ani Danielyan, has upheld the defense appeal submitted by the lawyer of the Catholicos of All Armenians.

According to the court’s ruling, the preventive measure applied to the Catholicos of All Armenians is subject to lifting.

Lawyer and representative of the Mother See, Ara Zohrabyan, told Aysor.am that the court’s decision has not yet been implemented.

“I am sure that the Prosecutor’s Office will appeal this decision and will do everything to prevent the court’s ruling from being enforced,” Zohrabyan said.

When asked whether the decision to lift the preventive measure could be seen as a sign of justice, the representative of the Mother See responded that there is always hope for justice.

“Unfortunately, some judges blindly make decisions that are pleasing to the authorities. However, there are also judges who are guided by the law. This, of course, increases hope for justice,” Zohrabyan emphasized.

The Prosecutor General’s Office later confirmed to Aysor.am that it will file an appeal against the ruling.

As a reminder, His Holiness the Catholicos of All Armenians is in the status of a defendant. He is accused of obstructing the execution of a judicial act requiring Arman Saroyan to be reinstated as Primate of the Masyatsotn Diocese. A travel ban has been applied as a preventive measure.

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