Ara Zohrabyan: proceedings in case against Catholicos of All Armenians and bishops were unlawful from the start

The delay in the trial of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and six senior clergymen is deliberate and aims to keep them under restrictions and pressure for as long as possible, Ara Zohrabyan, the Supreme Patriarch’s lawyer, told journalists.

“We believe they deliberately planned to drag out the hearing of this case. That is, the proceedings were unlawful and unfounded from the start. Clearly, the Supreme Patriarch and the other bishops are being charged for actions that fall within their canonical powers, and this has nothing to do with obstructing a judicial act,” he said.

According to Zohrabyan, the civil case in which the measures to secure the claim were imposed has already been closed, and the court ruled that it cannot review internal church matters.