Archbishop Galstanyan's house arrest has been extended.

The court extended Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan's house arrest for three months, allowing him to attend liturgy in Etchmiadzin once a week.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in late April, a Yerevan court extended Bagrat Galstanyan's arrest for two months in the case of preparing to seize power. In early June, the court transferred him to house arrest.

The prosecutor expressed his opinion on the need to extend house arrest. The defense demanded an end to the lawlessness and the archbishop's release, News.Am reports.

"It's an undeniable fact that we are not terrorists," Archbishop Galstanyan emphasized. He suggested that the authorities themselves are frightened by their own behavior. He considers the prime minister's statement about widespread bribery an attempt to intimidate the people. "We are anti-terrorists," the archbishop concluded, concluding his speech with a demand for the freedom of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahian.

At the same time, the court allowed Archbishop Galstanian to attend liturgy in Etchmiadzin every Sunday.

It should be recalled that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously sharply criticized the church at a government meeting, and responded to Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan's objections with insults on Facebook*. Armenian politicians and church representatives demanded that Pashinyan apologize for insulting the church.

The court also sentenced Archbishop Mikael Ajapayan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, to two years in prison. The defense intends to appeal the verdict, and the case against Bagrat Galstanyan continues in court. The head of the Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, and Priest Garegin Arsenyan have been arrested on charges of coercion to participate in public meetings.