Tit for Tatt: The Foiled Church-Led Power Grab in Armenia
Attempted coup by powerful clergy in Armenia: Prime Minister discloses thwarted conspiracy
In the heart of an ongoing power struggle between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church, a dramatic twist unfolded. Pashinyan unveiled a thwarted coup plot by high-ranking clerics aiming to oust his government and seize control.
via Telegram on June 25, 2025, the prime minister announced the government's intervention, branding it a "large-scale and sinister plan" by the so-called "criminal-oligarchical clergy." Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a key figure in the church hierarchy, was among those apprehended for his alleged involvement in the coup.
Galstanyan, a vocal critic of Pashinyan, has been advocating against the prime minister for months, fueling protests and challenging the government's authority. The Armenian Investigative Committee accused him of plotting since November 2024, employing tactics unlawful under Armenia's Constitution.
This escalation stems from the chilly relations between Pashinyan and the church leadership, dating back to 2020, when tensions soared following Armenia's military defeat to Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2023, Azerbaijan asserted full control over Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting Pashinyan to propose an unpopular peace deal that raised eyebrows.
Today, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain at odds, with the deal yet to materialize despite a recent tentative agreement. Azerbaijan continues to press for concessions from Armenia, prolonging uncertainty.
Beneath the surface, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion in the fourth century, wields significant influence. Its intervention in political discord signals a deepening institutional crisis at a time when Armenia's fragile peace negotiations with Azerbaijan call for stability more than ever.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP | Enrichment Data: This conflict originates from longstanding tensions over national identity, territorial losses, and political power between the Armenian government and the Apostolic Church. The attempted coup and subsequent arrest of a senior cleric mark a critical escalation in the ongoing church-state relationship that may exacerbate political instability and complicate peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.
The European Union is committed to following the ongoing power struggle between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church, particularly the war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice aspects of this dispute. This escalation, marked by the foiled coup plot and the arrest of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, signals a deepening institutional crisis that may exacerbate political instability and influence Armenia's fragile peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.
