With the fact of declaring Bishop Gevorg out of order, the Investigative Committee initiated criminal proceedings

The investigator notes that according to the report of the Enforcement Service, the Civil Court of General Jurisdiction of Armavir Marz issued a writ of execution on January 16 within the scope of the civil case, “prohibited the religious organization “Hayastanyaits Arakelakan Surb Kyrija” and other persons from carrying out any action that could in any way hinder Fr. Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, as the leader of the Masyatsotni Diocese, to exercise the powers and duties defined for the leader of the diocese by Article 68 of the Charter of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as well as other applicable rules, including managing the financial resources of the Masyatsotni Diocese and carrying out financial transactions, until a final judicial act is issued in the case.”

Then, enforcement proceedings were initiated in the Enforcement Service, within the framework of which a decision was made “To compel the debtor to perform certain actions or to compel him to refrain from performing certain actions.” On January 19, the decision was handed over to the Embassy of the Holy Etchmiadzin Mother See. “While in such conditions, by the decision of the Supreme Spiritual Council of January 27, 2026, the patriarchal administration declared Fr. Bishop Gevorg Saroyan,” says the Investigative Committee.

“On January 29, a criminal proceeding was initiated in the main department of investigation of particularly important cases of the RA Investigative Committee, according to the features of Article 507, Part 2 and Article 46-507, Part 2 of the Criminal Code, by which investigative and evidentiary actions are carried out,” the message says.

According to part 2 of Article 507 of the Civil Code, “failing to execute a judicial act or obstructing its execution, which was carried out by using official or official powers or the influence caused by them”, is punished by a fine, or public works, or restriction of freedom for a maximum of two years, or short-term imprisonment for a maximum of two months, or imprisonment for a maximum of two years. Section 46-507 deals with complicity in said acts.

On January 10, the Catholicos of All Armenians released Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, who joined the movement called Church Reform, from the position of leader of the Diocese of Masyatsotn, and the high-ranking cleric sued the Armenian Apostolic Church.