Armenian Authorities Accuse Senior Church Leader of Plotting Coup

Armenia’s Investigative Committee has accused Archbishop Bagrat, a senior figure in the Armenian Apostolic Church, of plotting terrorist attacks and attempting to seize power, Orda.kz reports.

According to News.am, on June 25, law enforcement agencies formally charged the “Holy Struggle” protest movement — led by Archbishop Bagrat — with attempting a coup d’état.

Authorities allege that in the summer of 2024, the church leader founded a public movement that organized rallies and marches to protest Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy. According to the Investigative Committee, supporters of the movement later planned to seize power by force.

Investigators claim the “Holy Struggle” was planning multiple terrorist acts, including arson, blocking transport tunnels, staging accidents, explosions, and shootings — all intended to sow chaos and disrupt law enforcement.

Authorities also allege that the group had begun acquiring incendiary devices and metal spikes intended to puncture police vehicle tires before law enforcement intervened.

Since January 2025, members of the criminal group had already recruited over a thousand people from among the movement’s participants and supporters, and received a map of Yerevan to identify key routes and coordinate their actions,the Investigative Committee added. 

Security forces said the coup attempt was thwarted in time by the National Security Service. A criminal case has been opened.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan praised law enforcement, stating they had foiled “a large and vile plan to destabilize the country” and seize power by what he described as a “criminal-oligarchic-clerical” group.

Authorities searched the homes of Archbishop Bagrat, members of the “Holy Struggle,” and several opposition politicians. Some activists were detained. Among those targeted were Artur Sargsyan, a sitting member of parliament, and Vahe Hakobyan, leader of the "Reborn Armenia" party.

The Kazakh Foreign Ministry commented on the events in Armenia cautiously, calling them an internal affair of a friendly country.

The developments in Armenia are the country’s internal affairs. Kazakhstan is developing full-scale cooperation with Armenia in the spirit of friendship and strategic partnership. We value the atmosphere of mutual trust that exists between our countries and wish the Armenian people peace and prosperity.said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov. 

Archbishop Bagrat, 54, known in secular life as Vazgen Galstanyan, is a prominent religious and opposition figure. In 2024, he led protests in Armenia’s Tavush region over territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. He demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Pashinyan and his government and publicly declared his own candidacy for prime minister as head of the opposition.

Amid these developments in Armenia, a serious rift has emerged between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s secular government and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny