Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, now on trial for publicly calling for seizing power and overthrowing constitutional order in Armenia, told presiding Yerevan Court Judge Armineh Meliksetyan today that he doesn’t fear being sentenced to life imprisonment.

The clergyman’s outburst in the court followed a ruling by Meliksetyan that threw out several motions filed by his defense attorney questioning the legality of the case.

The judge rebuked Ajapahyan when he shouted out, “It’s a shame.”

 One motion petitioned the court to deem the search report of Ajapahyan’s house be recognized as inadmissible evidence since the search was carried out with procedural violations.

On June 25, Armenian law enforcement raided Ajapahyan’s residence in Gyumri, part of a larger crackdown on opposition figures, including other senior clergy, who’ve called for Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation. to pre-trial detention for two months.

Police attempted to arrest Ajapahyan, the Shirk Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, on June 27,following a clergy meeting at the Etchmiadzin Holy See.

Ajapahyan left the building, escorted by Catholicos Garegin II, and was immediately surrounded by hundreds of supporters. Police officers finally left Etchmiadzin, arguing they didn’t want to escalate an already tense situation.

Ajapahyan voluntarily surrendered himself to police later that evening.