The Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia issued a statement, in which it is stated:
"Discussing the Council of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia in 2025 On October 15, the mass media and social media publications regarding the arrest of the clergymen of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as well as the information received from the lawyers, revealed that in 2025 On the morning of October 15, the investigators of the Yerevan Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee conducted searches in the apartments of Mkrtich (Hayk) Proshyan, the priest of the Aragatsotni Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, as well as other clergymen and diocese employees.
After the searches, the clerics and other persons were actually detained, although they were later declared to have the status of witnesses.
The information about the location of Mkrtich (Hayk) Proshyan, the leader of Aragatsotn Diocese, was found out only around 16:30, through representatives of the Human Rights Council. It was also found that the leader of Aragatsotn Diocese Mkrtich (Hayk) Proshyan was deprived of his freedom on 15.10.2025. at 09:35.
Ara Zohrabyan, the lawyer of Aragatsotn diocese leader Mkrtich (Hayk) Proshyan, submitted a crime report to the RA General Prosecutor's Office in connection with the commission of crimes under articles 451 (Forcible disappearance) and 491 (obstructing the exercise of the rights of a lawyer) of the RA Criminal Code.
Other clerics and other citizens, who were also actually detained early in the morning, were not given the opportunity to meet with their lawyers.
According to the presented data, 12 priests were also detained: Arz. T. Glory be to Fr. Arakelyan, Arzh. T. Father Hayk Kocharyan, Arzh. T. Baptist Fr. Yeranyan, Arzh. T. Manuk Fr. Zeynalyan, Arzh. T. Rev. Ghevond Gapoyan, Arzh. T. Father Hayk Sahakyan, Arzh. T. Rev. Sargis Sargsyan, Arzh. T. Karegin Fr. Arsenyan, Arzh. T. Narek Fr. Sargsyan, Arzh. T. Rev. Oshin Hayrapetyan, T. Vrtanes Fr. Baghalyan, Arzh. T. Ascension Fr. Danielyan.
The building of the Yerevan Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee was surrounded by police officers who actually did not allow the lawyers to enter the building.
Several lawyers only managed to enter the building of the investigative body and meet with their clients after 16:00.
The Council of the Chamber considers such behavior of the officials of the bodies implementing the proceedings unacceptable and finds that it grossly violates a number of fundamental rights of individuals guaranteed by the RA Constitution, international treaties and laws.
In particular, the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia guarantees the rights of every person to their personal freedom, to inform the person of their choice immediately (Article 27), to receive legal aid (Article 64 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia), in order to ensure that the activity of advocacy based on independence, self-government and equality of rights of lawyers is guaranteed.
Furthermore, the international convention "On the Protection of Enforced Disappearances" defines the prohibition of enforced disappearance.
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The Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Professional Activities of Lawyers guarantees the right of lawyers to offer and provide legal advice, assistance and representation, including the right to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to have quick and proper access to their clients, even when the latter are deprived of their liberty.
The above-mentioned guarantees established by the RA Constitution, international documents and laws are intended to ensure the right of a person to receive legal aid, and the state has a positive obligation to ensure the existence of effective legislative and practical mechanisms for the proper implementation of these guarantees.
The Council of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia considers as reprehensible the cases of obstructing the access of the lawyers who came to the body implementing the proceedings and meeting with the clients in order to provide legal assistance, as well as hiding the location of the client.
Based on the above and guided by the requirements of Article 10 of the Law "On Advocacy"
The Council of the Chamber unanimously decided:
1) Strictly condemn the obstruction of the access of the lawyers who came to the body implementing the proceedings to provide legal assistance to the clergy of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church and to meet with the clients, as well as the investigation body on 15.10.2025. Hiding the fact of depriving Mkrtich (Hayk) Proshyan of Aragatsotni Diocese, who was de facto deprived of his liberty from 09:35 and his whereabouts.
2) Inform the General Prosecutor's Office of RA and competent international structures about gross violations of human rights."
