Armenian Prime Minister Claims Church-Linked Coup Attempt Foiled
Attempted Coup by Prominent Clergy in Armenia Fails, as per Prime Minister's Statement
In a shocking turn of events, the Armenian government is alleging that the Apostolic Church attempted a coup, aiming to destabilize the country and seize power. The arrest of influential Archbishop Bagrat Galstanjan, a long-time critic of current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, is said to be at the heart of this sinister plan.
Pashinyan took to the Telegram messaging service with the announcement, stating that security forces had successfully thwarted a large-scale coup plot orchestrated by what he dubbed the "criminal-oligarchic clergy." This dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict between the government and the Apostolic Church has sent shockwaves through the Republic of Armenia.
The tension between Pashinyan and the influential Armenian Apostolic Church dates back to 2020, following the devastating loss in the Nagorno-Karabakh war against Azerbaijan. The Church's leader, Catholicos Garegin II, publicly called for Pashinyan's resignation, blaming him for the military losses and subsequent territorial concessions [1][2].
Matters took a turn for the worse when Azerbaijan gained full control of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Since then, Pashinyan has been advocating a controversial peace agreement with Azerbaijan, which has led to increased tensions and demands yet to be met by the Armenian government [3].
Archbishop Galstanjan, who has been rallying opposition against Pashinyan for months, is now in custody, accused of masterminding the coup attempt [1]. The Armenian Investigative Committee claimed that Galstanjan has been seeking a change in power since November 2024, using means not permitted by the Armenian Constitution [1].
Despite the government's assertions, the Apostolic Church remains a powerful institution in Armenia, with deep roots in the nation's history and significant influence in society and politics [3]. The Kremlin has been cautious, describing the incident as an internal Armenian matter while expressing hope for continued peace and friendly relations [1].
The power struggle between Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church continues to unfold, with implications that extend beyond the internal crisis and risk further strain on Armenia's relations with both Azerbaijan and Russia. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
[1] ntv.de[2] AFP[3] enrichment data provided for historical and contextual background.
1. Amidst the ongoing power struggle in Armenia, the Commission could be asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to the ionizing radiation emanating from the critical political climate.
2. As the international community watches the tension between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church, news outlets might cover the incident under the categories of war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and even crime-and-justice due to the accusations of treason and attempted coup.
