The Court of Appeals has prolonged the examination of a protest against the detention of Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, scheduling a new judicial act for September 26, 2025. This decision follows an earlier postponement and has drawn criticism from the defense team, who question the court’s reasoning and timing.
According to defense representatives, Judge Adfere Ghukasyan of the Court of Appeals issued the extension order on September 19, citing the presiding judge’s schedule conflicts between September 15 and 19 as justification. The defense has raised multiple concerns about this development, noting that the individual remains in custody during this extended period.
Legal representatives point to several apparent inconsistencies in the court’s actions. They question why the Court of Appeals opted for an extension rather than issuing a substantive decision on the detention protest, particularly when court operations continued normally during this period. The defense also highlights that procedural rules limit such extensions to specific durations, raising questions about whether the court’s justification meets legal standards.
The timing of court proceedings has also come under scrutiny. A first-instance court session originally scheduled for September 15 was expected to potentially conclude the case investigation, but was subsequently rescheduled for September 22. The defense suggests the appellate court’s decision to extend its review appears coordinated with the first-instance court’s timeline.
This sequence of events has led the defense to conclude that judicial review in this matter may be proceeding on a formal basis rather than substantively addressing the fundamental issue of individual liberty. They characterize the Court of Appeals’ actions as potentially avoiding its core responsibility in this case.
