A new judge has been assigned to preside over the criminal case against Catholicos Karekin II and six other bishops, after another judge recused himself from the case during the first scheduled hearing on August 7. According to DataLex, an online legal directory in Armenia, Serzh Rushanyan from the Armavir Province has been assigned as the new justice overseeing the case. Catholicos Karekin II and five of the six bishops indicted in the case appeared in court on August 7. The presiding judge, Hakop Manukyan, recused himself from the case citing a conflict of interest. Therefore, in the interests of justice, I found it necessary to recuse myself from this case,” Manukyan wrote on DataLex.