Latest news with #Galstanyan
AsiaOne
38 minutes ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Armenia arrests archbishop over alleged coup plot, Asia News
LONDON — Armenian authorities on Wednesday (June 25) arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had "acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power". A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act "in his own way" to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to "create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group." Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018, but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited over 1,000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt, as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year. [[nid:719476]]
MTV Lebanon
2 hours ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
25 Jun 2025 22:03 PM Armenia arrests archbishop over alleged coup plot
Armenian authorities on Wednesday arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had "acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power". A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act "in his own way" to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to "create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group." Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018, but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited over 1,000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt, as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Armenia police arrest archbishop over alleged coup plot
Armenian authorities have arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had "acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power". A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act "in his own way" to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to "create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group". Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018 but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited more than 1000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year. Armenian authorities have arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had "acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power". A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act "in his own way" to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to "create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group". Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018 but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited more than 1000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year. Armenian authorities have arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had "acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power". A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act "in his own way" to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to "create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group". Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018 but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited more than 1000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year. Armenian authorities have arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had "acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power". A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act "in his own way" to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to "create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group". Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018 but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited more than 1000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year.
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Armenia police arrest archbishop over alleged coup plot
Armenian authorities have arrested a prominent Christian cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, along with 13 other people and charged them with orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. In a statement, Armenia's Investigative Committee said it had filed criminal charges against Galstanyan and 15 others whom they said had "acquired the means and tools necessary to commit a terrorist attack and seize power". A total of 14 individuals have been arrested, investigators said, without naming the people. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Galstanyan's arrest is part of a growing confrontation between Pashinyan and the powerful Armenian Apostolic Church, who have traded increasingly bitter allegations in recent weeks ahead of elections scheduled for next year. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan. Last week, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan was detained on accusations of making public calls to usurp power after he accused the government of waging a campaign against the church and said he would act "in his own way" to stop it, according to state agency Armenpress. Lawyers for Karapetyan say the businessman denies wrongdoing. A lawyer for Galstanyan, Sergei Arutyunyan, told journalists on Wednesday that his client was being unfairly criminalised by the government, which he said was seeking to "create a smokescreen and simulate that they've caught a terrorist group". Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018 but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses to Azerbaijan in a brief war in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tapping into popular anger over defeats and territorial concessions, Galstanyan and his supporters led days of street protests last summer to demand the removal of Pashinyan. Detailing the charges that he faces now, authorities alleged that Galstanyan and associates had recruited more than 1000 people, mainly former soldiers and police officers, to block roads, paralyse traffic, incite violence and shut off the internet, with the goal of destabilising the government and seizing power. The Investigative Committee published audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup attempt as well as a photograph showing firearms and other weapons they said were discovered during searches. Pashinyan, who faces parliamentary elections in June 2026, has moved towards signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan although tensions between the two countries remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Foiled ‘sinister' coup plot by senior cleric of Church, says Armenia PM
Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) that the security forces had foiled a coup plot involving a senior cleric, the latest twist in his escalating conflict with the powerful Apostolic Church. Mr. Pashinyan has been at loggerheads with the Church since its head, Catholicos Garegin II, began calling for his resignation following Armenia's disastrous 2020 military defeat to arch-foe Azerbaijan over the then-disputed Karabakh region. The dispute escalated after Baku seized full control of the region in 2023. Mr. Pashinyan started pushing an unpopular peace deal with Azerbaijan that would essentially renounce Yerevan's claims to a region many Armenians see as their ancestral homeland. 'Law enforcement officers have foiled a large-scale and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy' to destabilise the situation in the Republic of Armenia and seize power,' Mr. Pashinyan wrote on his Telegram channel early Wednesday (June 25, 2025). The authorities arrested Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, a charismatic senior church figure trying to rally opposition to Mr. Pashinyan, accusing him of trying to mastermind the attempted coup. 'Since November 2024 (he) set himself the goal of changing power by means not permitted by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia,' said the Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes. The Apostolic Church wields considerable influence in Armenia, which in the fourth century became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. Home raids Galstanyan, who leads the opposition movement Sacred Struggle, last year accused Mr. Pashinyan of ceding territory to Azerbaijan and led mass protests that ultimately failed to topple the prime minister. His lawyer, Ruben Melikyan, condemned the case as politically motivated. He told reporters the archbishop 'acts independently' and said case materials showed no connection to the Church. The Investigative Committee said it had arrested 14 people and launched criminal proceedings against 16 suspects after raids of more than 90 premises in a case related to Galstanyan's Sacred Struggle movement. Publishing photos of guns and ammunition found during a series of raids, it alleged that Galstanyan had 'acquired the necessary means and tools to carry out terrorist acts and seize power'. It also released covert recordings suggesting Galstanyan and his allies had called to execute officials, imprison opponents, and suppress any resistance by force. 'We either kill, or we die,' said a man, whose voice was said to resemble that of Galstanyan, in one of the clips. Galstanyan's legal team said it expected he would be 'charged with terrorism and attempted seizure of power.' The website published footage showing Galstanyan leaving his house accompanied by masked police officers, who escorted him into a car and drove him away. 'Evil, listen carefully — whatever you do, you have very little time left. Hold on, we are coming,' he said, apparently addressing Mr. Pashinyan, A crowd of supporters outside shouted, 'Nikol is a traitor!'
