Armenia arrests archbishop Galstanyan over alleged coup plot

Armenian authorities on Wednesday arrested Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a prominent opposition cleric, accusing him of orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government through coordinated unrest and violence.

The Investigative Committee said Galstanyan and his associates acquired the tools to carry out terrorist attacks and recruited over 1,000 people — mostly ex-soldiers and police officers — to block roads, incite violence, disrupt internet service, and seize power.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan praised the operation as a successful effort to foil a “sinister plan by the criminal-oligarchic clergy.”

This is the second high-profile opposition figure detained this month. Earlier, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was arrested for allegedly calling for the usurpation of power. His legal team denies the accusations.

Galstanyan rose to prominence last year during protests triggered by Armenia’s military defeats and territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Authorities released audio recordings purportedly of Galstanyan discussing the alleged coup plans.

The Kremlin called the matter Armenia’s internal affair but stressed its interest in seeing calm and order preserved.

N.Tebrizli