Armenia .. Foiling a Coup Attempt Involving a Religious Figure

In the midst of the escalating confrontation between the Armenian government and the leadership of the Apostolic Church in the country, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced today, Wednesday, that the security forces thwarted a coup attempt involving a prominent religious figure.

Pashinyan wrote on Telegram: "The security forces thwarted a malicious scheme by criminal religious figures aimed at destabilizing the Republic of Armenia and seizing power".

According to a statement issued by an Armenian investigative committee, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan has been seeking "since November 2024 to change power through means not permitted by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia".

The investigative committee stated that Galstanyan: "with prior approval from a number of movement members, obtained the necessary means and tools to carry out terrorist acts and seize power".

The committee added that "search operations are ongoing in the residences of Archbishop Bagrat and around 30 of his aides".

Deputy Garnik Danielyan, close to the Archbishop, told reporters, "These are the actions of a dictatorial regime", describing the accusations against the religious figure as fabricated. Galstanyan, the leader of the "Sacred Struggle" movement, accused Pashinyan last year of handing over the region to Azerbaijan and leading wide protests that ultimately failed to overthrow the Prime Minister.