A Yerevan court today sentenced Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan to two-years imprisonment.

The court, on September 24, found Ajapahyan, Shirak Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church,  guilty on charges that he publicly called for seizing power and overthrowing constitutional order in Armenia.

Police attempted to arrest Ajapahyan 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.

The sentence will start as of the day of the clergyman’s arrest, June 28.

Ajapahyan denies the charges and claims he’s being politically persecuted as part of the government's actions to persecute church members.

His defense team says the court’s decision was expected and that they will appeal the verdict.

Update: The headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church condemned the verdict, arguing it was politically motivated and a gross violation of the principle of free speech.

"Harshly condemning the blatant illegalities, we reaffirm that the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin will pursue the application of legal, including international, instruments to restore the just rights of His Eminence Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan," the church statement reads.