Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that law enforcement agencies had foiled a large-scale plan by what he called a “criminal oligarchic clergy” to destabilize the country and seize power. He made the statement on his social media accounts.
Pashinyan also shared a link to a press release from Armenia’s Investigative Committee.
According to the release, the committee accuses the leaders and members of the “Sacred Struggle” movement of planning terrorist attacks and other actions aimed at forcibly seizing power in Armenia. The committee names Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan as the initiator and leader of the movement.
Investigators allege that after failing for several months to achieve the movement’s goal of seizing power through constitutional means, Galstanyan set a new objective in November 2024 — to seize power by unconstitutional means.
The Investigative Committee claims the movement planned to form between 200 and 250 strike groups, each consisting of up to 25 individuals with military training. Their alleged plans included carrying out terrorist acts, arson, and staging dozens of car crashes on major streets and busy avenues.
According to News.am, law enforcement is conducting searches at the homes of “Sacred Struggle” supporters, including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan.