Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a senior cleric in the Armenian Apostolic Church and leader of the “Sacred Struggle” (Srbazan Baykar) movement, was detained on June 25 amid a sweeping wave of arrests targeting opposition figures accused of plotting a violent coup in Armenia.
According to Armenia’s Investigative Committee, Galstanyan and his associates allegedly planned to overthrow the government through coordinated acts of sabotage, violence, and terrorism. Officials claim the movement began organizing strike teams of former police and military personnel as early as November 2024. The allegations, unproven and fiercely debated, have triggered one of Armenia’s most serious political escalations since the 2020 war, deepening tensions between the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church and drawing sharp condemnation from opposition groups.
The case has also drawn in prominent business figures, revived public anger over previous territorial concessions, and reignited debate about the future of democracy and dissent in Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has framed the arrests as the neutralization of a “sinister” conspiracy, while critics have called it a politically motivated crackdown on dissent.
Arrest and Charges
Galstanyan was formally charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, inciting mass unrest, and attempting to usurp power, his lawyer Sergey Harutyunyan told reporters. A motion for his pre-trial detention was filed by the Investigative Committee and transferred to the courts. The motion for Archbishop Galstanyan’s pre-trial detention was assigned to Judge Masis Melkonyan, lawyer Sergey Harutyunyan reported. The hearing is scheduled to take place today at 10:00 p.m. at the Avan seat of the Court of General Jurisdiction. Harutyunyan stated that Galstanyan denies all wrongdoing, labeling the case as “political persecution.”
In a defiant statement during his arrest, Galstanyan was recorded shouting: “You villain, listen carefully, whatever you’re plotting will fail. Your time is running out.”
Masked officers from the National Security Service (NSS) surrounded Galstanyan’s residence early in the morning, barring opposition MPs Artur Sargsyan and Garnik Danielyan from entering. NSS conducted a search, seizing bags filled with documents, a loudspeaker, and other items, before sealing off the residence and taking the archbishop into custody.
Official Allegations
The Investigative Committee of Armenia claim that Galstanyan and his allies developed plans to mine tunnels in Yerevan and other parts of the country, orchestrate dozens of traffic accidents, ignite fires, and paralyze infrastructure to create panic and chaos. Plans reportedly included explosions, attacks on building exteriors, and sabotage of military communication cables and power systems.
In addition, the group is accused of planning coordinated cyberattacks to disable government websites and critical control systems.
The Investigative Committee stated that over 90 searches were conducted across Yerevan and other regions, uncovering:
- Firearms and ammunition
- Military uniforms and tactical gear
- Communication devices
- Drones
- Smoke grenades
- Lists of recruited individuals
- A list of would-be government appointees
- Detailed documents outlining operational plans
In total, 16 individuals have been indicted, and 14 were placed under arrest, including Galstanyan.
The “Sacred Struggle” movement has released the names of 12 out of the 14 individuals detained today: Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Karo Okumushyan, Tigran Topalyan, Tigran Galstyan, Davit Galstyan, Mihran Makhsudyan, Deacon Hrayr Hakobyan, Aghasi Arshakyan, Igor Sargsyan, Ara Rostomyan, Armen Aleksanyan, and Movses Sharbatyan.
Audio Recordings and Pashinyan’s Response
The Investigative Committee also released what it described as audio recordings featuring Galstanyan and others allegedly discussing the plot. The conversations included references to possible assassinations, blocking roads with cars, and plans to cut off electricity and internet access across the country.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shared the audio recordings on Facebook, one by one, and commented on their contents. He also invoked the names of Catholicos Karekin II and detained businessman Samvel Karapetyan, alleging their involvement or support for the attempted power grab.
Pashinyan referred to the alleged plot as a “large-scale and vile ‘criminal-oligarchic-clerical’ plan to destabilize the Republic of Armenia and seize power.”
Media Publication and Prosecutor’s Office
One day before the arrest, the ruling party’s media outlet Civic.am published a document titled “The Opposition’s Coup Plan”, accompanied by a collage featuring former Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan, businessman Samvel Karapetyan, and Catholicos Karekin II.
The Prosecutor General’s Office then referred the publication to the Investigative Committee to determine whether to initiate a criminal investigation, which they did shortly afterward.
Businessman Samvel Karapetyan and Church Tensions
The arrest of Galstanyan follows that of Samvel Karapetyan, a businessman and major donor to the Armenian Apostolic Church, who was charged under Article 422 for allegedly making public calls to seize power and disrupt the constitutional order.
Karapetyan’s detention has added fuel to growing tensions between the Church and state. He had previously declared: “If politicians fail, we will intervene in our own way in the campaign against the church.”
Opposition Condemnation and Church Defense
Law enforcement also raided the homes of other opposition activists, including individuals affiliated with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). The ARF and other opposition parties condemned the arrests as politically motivated, citing a broader campaign of intimidation against dissenters.
Galstanyan’s lawyer, Harutyunyan, said no weapons or incriminating materials were found during the search of his residence and dismissed the raid as a “publicity stunt.”
Historical and Political Context
The arrest comes nearly one year after Galstanyan led massive anti-government protests in Yerevan. Then serving as Archbishop of the Tavush Diocese, he emerged as a leading voice against Pashinyan’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan, particularly concerning border villages in Tavush. The “Sacred Struggle” movement, launched in mid-2024, drew tens of thousands into the streets and briefly united nearly all major opposition forces.
Statements by Former President and Analysts
On the day of Galstanyan’s arrest, former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan hosted Catholicos Karekin II for a meeting at his residence. According to his spokesperson Arman Musinyan, they discussed recent political escalations and government pressure on the Church.
Ter-Petrosyan reportedly stated: “Pashinyan is the embodiment of defeat. He disgracefully lost the war in Artsakh and he will inevitably lose the war he has now declared against the Armenian Apostolic Church.”
Other political analysts offered similar warnings. Beniamin Matevosyan argued on Facebook that the arrests would not halt what he called a “purely political process” and may further weaken Pashinyan’s position.
Arsen Gasparyan, a former adviser to Pashinyan, warned that the state’s efforts to sideline the Church could backfire. Speaking at a conference, he compared the current pressure to Cold War-era efforts to secularize society and suppress religious institutions, noting:
“No matter how much the authorities try to suppress the Armenian Apostolic Church… it will inevitably play a bigger and more prominent role in both society and domestic politics.”
