Hundreds of Armenian Apostolic Church supporters formed a human shield around Shirak Primate Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan today in Etchmiadzin, preventing him from getting into a police car dispatched to whisk him away.

Ajapahyan was yesterday charged with making public calls for seizing power and overthrowing constitutional order in Armenia.

Ajapahyan is the latest top church official facing such charges.

Earlier this week, Armenia’s National Security Service took Galstyan into custody yesterday in Yerevan and was subsequently placed in pre-trial detention for two months on charges of terrorism, fomenting public disorder and planning to seize power.

Galstyan led a protest movement in 2024 opposing the Armenian government’s plan to handover border regions to Azerbaijan.

Ajapahyan, who was attending a clergy meeting at the Etchmiadzin Holy See, had left the building escorted by Catholicos Garegin II when he was surrounded by well-wishers.

“They came after me and I will go. I am not a threat to this country. The threat lies in the government,” declared Archbishop Ajapahyan.

Several scuffles occurred between security forces and clergy members.

Police officers finally left Etchmiadzin, arguing they didn’t want to escalate an already tense situation.

“I am not afraid of anything. This accusation is an absolutely fabricated, an illegal accusation. I have never hidden. I have not retracted what I said. I have said it. I have done well. And I will continue in the same spirit,” said Ajapahyan.

Ajaphyan’s lawyer later announced that they were leaving the scene and would present themselves at the office’s of the country’s Investigative Committee.