At a high-level Prayer Breakfast held in Yerevan, international religious leaders and human rights advocates issued direct appeals to Armenian authorities, calling for the immediate release of detained clergy from the Armenian Apostolic Church. The statements highlighted growing concern over what many view as politically motivated arrests targeting religious figures.

Speaking at the event, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Head of the postgraduate department at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary, reminded attendees that three senior clergymen remain behind bars: Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, and Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan.
“They are all imprisoned by the Government of Armenia,” Findikyan said. His remarks were later shared on X (formerly Twitter), further raising international awareness.

Also addressing the gathering was Asif Mahmood, Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), who expressed serious concern about the arrests.
“I urge the authorities to uphold due process and release them,” he stated, underscoring the importance of protecting religious freedom and the rule of law.

Joel Welkamp of Christian Solidarity International had earlier issued a video message from Republic Square, requesting permission to visit the detained priests and noting: “We’re glad to be here, but we have some serious questions.”

The coordinated messages at the Yerevan prayer event reflect a growing wave of international scrutiny. As Armenia faces accusations of suppressing clergy aligned with the Armenian Apostolic Church, global observers are warning that such actions may undermine the country’s democratic reputation and strain its international relationships.