Clergyman and 16 alleged co-conspirators detained in Armenia
A Warrant for Bagrat Galstanyan and Others: A Contentious Two-Month Arrest
It's a tumultuous turn of events in Armenia as Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the "Sacred Struggle" movement, finds himself behind bars, amidst allegations of planning a coup and terrorist acts. This disclosure stemmed from an investigative hearing, as reported by News.am.
Previously, warrants were issued for Davit Galstanyan, a National Assembly deputy of Nagorno-Karabakh, Bagrat's assistant, Movses Sharbatyan, blogger Arman Aleksanyan, and reserve colonel Mikran Makhsudyan. In fact, arrest warrants were sought for a total of 16 individuals.
On this fateful Wednesday morning, searches were carried out in the homes of supporters of the "Sacred Struggle" movement across Armenia. Search parties even descended upon the residence of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leading to his detainment.
The Investigative Committee of Armenia made an official statement, alleging that the "Sacred Struggle" had been orchestrating terrorist acts in Armenia, aiming to topple the government. Numerous individuals, including former police officers and military personnel, were said to be involved in this covert operation. The committee also released a series of audio recordings, which the opposition vehemently denies.
The government of Nikol Pashinyan expresses profound concerns about a potential Russian-backed coup, according to the BBC. Confidential sources, including a member of the cabinet and a ruling party deputy, have cautioned the BBC correspondent about this looming danger in various years. Moscow, however, has consistently dismissed these accusations.
Arthur Sakunts, a human rights activist close to the government, stated that the Kremlin is acting as political opposition through its Armenian executors. His assertion did not accompany any evidence. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when questioned about Archbishop Bagrat's arrest, responded, "This is an internal affair of Armenia. Of course, we are interested in Armenia maintaining legality, calm, and being a prosperous, stable, and friendly country to Russia."
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Armenian authorities have accused Moscow of intervention during a political struggle. In September 2023, a pro-government Armenian Telegram channel spread rumors that the Kremlin had allegedly dispatched 3,000 Wagner Group mercenaries to Armenia with the intent of overthrowing Pashinyan. No proof was presented, and the Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed the claim as misinformation.
In the political landscape, the ruling party is grappling with the specter of Russian interference - observes Armenian political scientist Tigran Grigoryan. For the extent to which these fears are exaggerated remains uncertain.
Although Archbishop Galstanyan stands as the main suspect in this criminal case, Prime Minister Pashinyan declares that the coup is orchestrated by the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), Catholicos Garegin II, and Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan.
The priest's legal team refutes these accusations, stressing that high-ranking clerics have not been arrested in Armenia since Stalin's repressions. "Archbishop Bagrat is engaged in independent activities, and even from the available investigation materials, it does not highlight that the church is related to this case," acknowledges his lawyer, as reported by News.am.
Pashinyan is locked in a contentious battle with AAC head Garegin II, accusing the catholicos of breaching his vow of celibacy and demanding his resignation. The church in Armenia operates independently from the state, and local political scientists link the conflict to politics, with the church emerging as a formidable voice of dissent in recent years as parliamentary elections approach.
Billionaire Karapetyan refrains from Armenian politics, but last week, he voiced support for the AAC, promising to protect it if necessary. On the same day, he was detained on charges of calling for a coup - a charge his defense vehemently denies.
Read more
Pashinyan Faces Accusations of Interfering with the AAC and the Catholicos
Karapetyan and the AAC: A Complicated Relationship
The Alleged Coup Plot: A Contentious Political Conundrum in Armenia
- Amidst the political landscape of Armenia, concerns regarding Russian interference continue to surface, with Tigran Grigoryan, an Armenian political scientist, observing the ruling party grappling with this specter.
- The controversy surrounding Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan's arrest is not confined to his role as a main suspect in the coup plot; it extends to the polarizing relationship between him, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, as well as the alleged involvement of the Russian government.
