Armenian authorities have arrested Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, accusing him of plotting to overthrow the government in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the Church and state.
Officials claim Bagrat, a leading critic of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, recruited ex-soldiers, stockpile weapons, and planned coordinated unrest to seize power. Authorities say secret recordings back the allegations, and raids uncovered protest gear and smoke bombs.
Bagrat, head of the “Tavush for the Homeland” movement, has led mass protests demanding Pashinyan’s resignation following Armenia’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. His lawyer calls the charges politically motivated, insisting no real weapons were found.
The arrest deepens a growing rift between the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Other church figures, including Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and billionaire ally Samvel Karapetyan, have also been detained in recent weeks.
As Armenia prepares for 2026 elections, the crackdown has sparked fears of increased political and social unrest in the fragile South Caucasus nation.
