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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced that law enforcement agencies have thwarted what he described as preparations for "terrorist acts" by a group led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, whom Pashinian has accused of plotting a coup since November 2024.
Pashinian shared the announcement on his Facebook account, citing a statement from Armenia's Investigative Committee. The statement alleged that a group under Galstanyan's leadership had been "preparing a coup" since November 2024.
According to Pashinian, Galstanyan had formed "assault teams" consisting primarily of former military personnel and police officers with the goal of overthrowing the government. "Law enforcement agencies prevented a large and treacherous plan by the criminal oligarchic clergy class aimed at destabilizing the Republic of Armenia and usurping power," Pashinian stated.
The allegations come amid escalating tensions between Pashinian and Armenian religious authorities. In a separate Facebook post, Pashinian responded to what he characterized as insulting remarks directed at him by a spokesperson for Catholicos Garegin II, the spiritual leader of Armenians.
The spokesperson had reportedly used the term "circumcised" when referring to Pashinian, implying he was not Christian. Pashinian called this a lie, saying, "I am ready to prove the opposite of what the spokesperson said."
Pashinian fired back with personal allegations, stating: "Let him also say whether he broke his vow of celibacy, whether he has children."
Russia on Wednesday characterized Pashinian's allegations as an internal Armenian affair. "This is, of course, an internal matter for Armenia," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing.
"We are, of course, interested in the preservation of law and order in Armenia, so that Armenia is a prosperous, stable country, friendly to Russia," Peskov added.
Pashinyan had written on Facebook that "Law enforcement officers prevented a large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy' to destabilize the Republic of Armenia and seize power," sharing a statement from Armenia's Investigative Committee, which said the plot was foiled by the National Security Service during its "preparatory stages."
The current tensions stem from widespread demonstrations that began in May 2024. Citizens and politicians organized by the Armenian Church launched a march from the Tavush and Shirak regions to the capital on May 4, 2024, followed by nationwide protests centered in Yerevan.
During the protests, which called for Pashinian's resignation, the prime minister had demanded that the Church stay out of government affairs, emphasizing that changes in leadership could only occur through elections.
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