global
Armenian Apostolic Church Leader Faces Trial in Vagharshapat
Just the facts
Armenian prosecutors charged Catholicos Karekin II and six fellow clerics with failing to comply with a civil court order to reinstate a defrocked bishop. The charges carry a potential sentence of up to two years in prison upon conviction. The legal proceedings follow the church's January decision to defrock Bishop Gevorg Saroyan, a supporter of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, over alleged abuse of authority. Tensions between the ecclesiastical leadership and the Armenian government have escalated following disputes over the handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Why this is news
Catholicos Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and six other clerics are set to stand trial in the Armavir Regional Court in Vagharshapat, Armenia.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.