Armenia's Appeals Court Overturns Archbishop Ajapahyan's Conviction

Armenia's Criminal Appeals Court has overturned a lower court's October 2025 guilty verdict against Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, ordering a new trial. Ajapahyan had been convicted of publicly calling for the seizure of power and the overthrow of Armenia's constitutional order. The appeals court decision reverses the earlier judgment, sending the case back for retrial. The case centers on statements made by the high-ranking Armenian Apostolic Church official regarding Armenia's political system. Details regarding the appeals court's reasoning for the reversal were not immediately available in the initial reporting.