Archbishop Mkrtich Proshyan released from house arrest

PanARMENIAN.Net - The house arrest imposed on Archbishop Mkrtich Proshyan, head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, has been lifted.

The Court of First Instance of Aragatsotn Province, chaired by Judge Davit Dabaghyan, ruled to replace the measure with a ban on leaving and administrative supervision.

Under the court’s decision, Proshyan is prohibited from communicating with participants in the criminal proceedings and clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese. He is also banned from visiting the diocesan residence and churches located in Aragatsotn Province, Sputnik Armenia reports.

Archbishop Proshyan was detained on October 16, 2025.

Public criminal prosecution has been initiated against him under two articles of the Criminal Code: abuse of official position to obstruct the exercise of electoral rights and coercion to participate in gatherings using official authority.

The criminal case was launched following statements made on Public Television by Fr. Aram Asatryan of the Aragatsotn Diocese, who was later defrocked and returned to his secular name, Stepan Asatryan.

Daniel Ioannisyan, head of the NGO Union of Informed Citizens, appealed to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia, drawing attention to those statements.

On February 12, the court had previously replaced Proshyan’s detention with house arrest, also banning him from participating in liturgies and meeting with priests.