Court founds Armenian clergyman guilty 

ArmInfo. Judge Armine Meliksetyan of the Yerevan Court of Primary Instance announced the verdict in the case of Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhian, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Specifically, the judge found Mikael Ajapakhian guilty under Part 2  of Article 422 of the Criminal Procedure Code (public calls for the  seizure of power, violation of territorial integrity, sovereignty, or  the violent overthrow of the constitutional order). "The preventive  measure remains unchanged, with appropriate restrictions," the judge  stated, adding that additional hearings are scheduled for September  29 at 3:30 PM.

During the verdict, those present began chanting "Shame! Shame!"

As a reminder, Ajapakhian has been in custody since June 28.  According to the Investigative Committee, during the preliminary  investigation of the criminal case, clear factual evidence was  obtained indicating that M.A. stated in an interview with a news  channel that he had repeatedly proposed to two former presidents of  the Republic of Armenia to carry out a military coup through generals  who held similar positions in the army, police, and national security  agencies. "Thus, M.A., using the media, made public calls aimed at  seizing power and violently overthrowing the constitutional order,"  the statement stated.  Public criminal prosecution was initiated  against M.A. under Part 2 of Article 422 of the Criminal Code (public  calls aimed at seizing power, violating territorial integrity,  renunciation of sovereignty, or violently overthrowing the  constitutional order). On July 30, the Court of Appeals rejected the  defense's appeal to change the pretrial detention measure against the  archbishop.

The archbishop himself, in his closing statement, noted that he was  honored to be in prison under the current rulers.