The clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church have issued a joint statement condemning what they describe as unlawful and inappropriate actions by Armenia’s Investigative Committee.

According to the statement, on October 24, 2025, police officers delivered summonses to nearly two dozen priests and deacons, ordering them to appear before Senior Investigator Nazeli Sargsyan of the Yerevan Investigative Department at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 27, as part of ongoing criminal proceedings.

The clergy argue that the summonses violate both legal and religious norms. Citing the Armenian Constitution, the Law on the Relationship Between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, and the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, they emphasize that the state has “no right to interfere in the internal life of the Church.”

The priests note that every Sunday, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all active churches — a central act of worship for the faithful — and that their mandatory attendance before investigators would force them to abandon their pastoral duties. “On that day, we cannot appear before the investigative body, as doing so would mean abandoning our spiritual duties and leaving the faithful without Holy Communion,” the statement reads.

They also point to procedural violations, stating that the summonses were delivered with less than the legally required two days’ notice. Additionally, the clergy insist they will not provide testimony without their lawyers present, but note that Sunday is a non-working day when legal representation cannot be arranged.

The statement comes amid reports that the head of the Aragatsotn Diocese, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, was arrested on October 15, 2025, further intensifying concerns within the clergy over what they view as escalating pressure from state authorities against the Church.