Forum 18, an international human rights organization that monitors religious freedom, has sharply criticized the criminal prosecution of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and six high-ranking bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The organization believes the case threatens the principle of church autonomy, enshrined in both the Armenian Constitution and the country's international obligations.

Forum 18's statement came just days before the first court hearing, which will be held in the Armavir Regional Court of First Instance. The defendants are charged with failure to comply with a court ruling: investigators believe the church leadership refused to comply with a court order temporarily reinstating Bishop Gevorg Saroyan. If found guilty, they face penalties ranging from a fine to two years in prison.

The conflict began in January, when the Armenian Apostolic Church suspended Saroyan from his ministry. The reason for this was his public support for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's initiative to change church leadership. The bishop then appealed to the court, which ordered his temporary reinstatement pending the final resolution of the dispute.

However, the church refused to comply with this ruling. Etchmiadzin stated that matters of clergy appointment and dismissal are governed exclusively by canon law and are not within the jurisdiction of civil courts.

Forum 18 believes that this is where the fundamental line between the powers of the state and religious institutions lies. The organization recalls that Armenian law guarantees religious associations the right to independently resolve internal personnel issues, and international human rights norms require the authorities to respect this right.

"From the very outset, this case does not comply with international standards for freedom of religion and violates the right of religious organizations to autonomy," stated religious freedom expert Isabella Sargsyan.

According to her, the state should not interfere in matters of the church hierarchy, and disputes related to defrocking or ecclesiastical appointments should not be subject to civil court proceedings.

The case against Karekin II is the latest episode in the protracted standoff between the Armenian authorities and the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which in recent months has increasingly moved beyond political debate and into the legal arena.