In Armenia, special forces arrived at the residence of the head of the Armenian Church. A scuffle broke out between security forces and clergymen.
On the morning of 27 June, special forces of the Armenian National Security Service (NSS) and police officers entered the territory of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative centre of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) and the residence of the Catholicos (spiritual leader) of the church.
The NSS officers also conducted searches at the residence of the head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian, in the city of Gyumri. A meeting of clergy was taking place in Echmiadzin, and Archbishop Ajapakhian was also there. The day before, the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office reported that a criminal case had been opened against Ajapakhian for public calls to seize power (Part 2 of Article 422 of the Criminal Code of Armenia).
Soon, Ajapakhyan emerged from the security forces and those gathered on the church’s territory in Echmiadzin and stated that he would not hide. “I do not want to create the impression that I am hiding behind my brothers, and I am not hiding behind anyone. They (the NSS) came for me, I will go. I will say even louder that what is happening is illegal. I do not pose a threat to this country, the main threat is in power. I have not posed a threat to this country, I have not and will not, but those people who carry out the will of this madman threaten me with reprisals, and I am going with them,” News.am quotes him as saying.
