Armenia Arrests Bishops in Alleged Coup Plot, Escalates Church-State Tensions

In Armenia, tensions between the government led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church have escalated sharply, highlighted by the arrests of two senior clerics, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, on charges of terrorism and plotting a military coup. Investigations revealed that these clerics were involved in organizing an opposition movement called 'Sacred Struggle,' which aimed to overthrow the government, recruiting hundreds, mostly former military and police personnel, and planning terrorist acts near Yerevan. The Armenian Church has condemned the arrests as politically motivated, accusing the government of conducting an anti-church campaign and undermining legal processes. This conflict follows Armenia's military defeat in Nagorno Karabakh and has sparked protests and clashes with police, raising concerns about potential civil unrest and the destabilization of the country. External voices, such as Russian officials, have expressed concern over the attacks on the church and called for a swift resolution, while some analysts suggest Western influences may be exacerbating the crisis. These developments contribute to growing internal strife ahead of Armenia's 2026 parliamentary elections, marking a significant confrontation between state authority and religious institutions.