Bishop Arshak sues Stepan Asatryan, demanding retraction and 999 drams in compensation

Bishop Arshak Khachatryan, Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, has filed a lawsuit against Stepan Asatryan, a defrocked former clergyman formerly known as Father Aram.

The bishop asked the court to order Asatryan to retract information he considers defamatory and to pay 999 drams in compensation for non-pecuniary (moral) damage.

The lawsuit was prompted by statements Asatryan made on September 27 on Public Television during the program “How to Reform the Church: The Big Debate.”

In particular, Asatryan made a number of claims, including about alleged cases of pedophilia within the Church. He mentioned the brother of the Catholicos of All Armenians, saying he had never explained why he did not report the crime.