Armenian police round up protesters backing coup-accused priest

Supporters of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, accused of orchestrating a coup d'état, held a protest in Yerevan, during which Armenian police made arrests.

Those detained included Artur Demirchyan, Lusine Grigoryan, and Hovnatan Demirchyan, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a senior cleric in the Armenian Apostolic Church, emerged as a prominent opposition figure in 2024, leading the “Tavush for the Homeland” movement.

The group gained momentum after opposing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s decision to cede sections of border territory to Azerbaijan as part of ongoing normalisation talks.

Galstanyan's movement, which draws support from nationalist and clerical circles, has held numerous rallies calling for the government's resignation and rejecting perceived concessions on national sovereignty.

In June 2025, Armenian authorities opened a criminal case against Galstanyan, accusing him of attempting to organise a coup. He has denied the allegations, claiming political persecution.

His supporters argue that the charges are aimed at silencing dissent and preventing the church’s moral leadership from influencing national politics.

The situation reflects growing tensions between the secular government and more conservative, traditionalist factions in Armenian society.

By Aghakazim Guliyev