Yerevan court extends detention of Archbishop allegedly plotting government overthrow

A Yerevan court has extended the detention of Archbishop Bagrat Galstyan, the leader of the “Sacred Struggle” movement, for an additional three months.

The announcement was made by Judge Karen Farhoyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Galstyan is among 18 members of the “Sacred Struggle” movement currently under investigation in a case concerning the “preparation of a terrorist act and an attempt to seize power.”

The arrests of Galstyan and his supporters took place at the end of June, when the Armenian Investigative Committee stated that it had successfully prevented an attempted armed seizure of power.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee accused Archbishop Bagrat Galstyan of orchestrating a plan to overthrow the government through terrorism and illegal force.

The Committee alleges that Galstyan, starting in November 2024, pursued the goal of regime change through unconstitutional means.

He reportedly secured the approval of several allies within the movement and began acquiring the tools and resources needed to carry out coordinated terrorist attacks aimed at seizing power.

By Vafa Guliyeva