Armenian authorities to seek arrest of Archbishop Galstanyan amid coup allegations

The Investigative Committee of Armenia will file a motion in court to ensure the arrest of Bagrat Galstanyan, the archbishop and leader of the nationalist “Sacred Struggle” movement, amid an ongoing investigation involving multiple opposition figures.

The statement came from Bagrat Galstanyan’s lawyer, Sergey Arutyunyan, who also said that his client refused to testify and does not acknowledge the charges brought against him, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The lawyer of the detained businessman Tigran Galstyan, Ruben Melikyan, also noted that his client does not admit guilt.

Local media reports also claim that the Investigative Committee does not allow the defence team to make any public statements of this nature.

Melikyan explained that all 14 individuals were detained as part of a single criminal case. However, it was decided that each of them must have a separate lawyer.

In the early hours of June 25, Armenian law enforcement launched a large-scale, coordinated operation targeting members and supporters of the revanchist “Tavush for the Homeland” movement—also known as the “Sacred Struggle.” The operation was part of a broader investigation into an alleged coup attempt.

Among the key targets was the apartment of the movement’s leader, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a prominent cleric and outspoken critic of the Armenian government. Galstanyan has been especially vocal in opposing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s policies on border delimitation with Azerbaijan.

According to the Investigative Committee of Armenia, over 90 searches were carried out across the country during the operation. Authorities detained 14 individuals and uncovered a significant cache of materials believed to be linked to a planned coup. These included weapons, ammunition, military gear, drones, communication equipment, smoke bombs, firecrackers, metal objects, and substances resembling narcotics. Investigators also found action plans, lists of recruited individuals, and documents naming persons allegedly nominated for posts in a prospective post-coup government.

Following the seizures, the supervising prosecutor approved the initiation of criminal proceedings against 16 individuals based on a request by the lead investigator. Fourteen of those have been taken into custody.

Later that day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the nation via Facebook, alleging that “criminal-oligarchic-clerical circles” were behind the failed coup attempt. He credited law enforcement with thwarting the plot through timely intervention.

The events unfold against the backdrop of deepening political divisions in Armenia. Opposition groups and segments of the influential Armenian Apostolic Church have sharply criticised Pashinyan’s leadership, particularly over his government’s foreign policy direction, including efforts to normalise relations with Türkiye and Azerbaijan, and his handling of Armenia’s increasingly strained ties with Russia.

By Khagan Isayev