Crowds block Armenian security forces seeking to arrest a clergyman who criticized the government

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Security forces faced off with crowds Friday at the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church as the government sought to arrest a clergyman in the latest move against outspoken critics of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The tense confrontation in Etchmiadzin, outside the capital of Yerevan, ended with security forces withdrawing without arresting Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan to avoid escalating the situation, Armenia’s National Security Service said. After the NSS urged him to appear before authorities...