Pashinyan Accuses Catholicos of Justifying Coup Attempt

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Catholicos of All Armenians Ktrich Nersisyan planned to carry out a military coup in the country.

"If Ktrich Nersisyan considers the arrest of Vazgen Galstanyan and Gevorg Ajapakhyan illegal, it means that he shares the ideology and plans of the above-mentioned persons to carry out a military coup, shoot people under the walls, and create chaos in the country," Pashinyan wrote on his Facebook page.

Recall that in early July, Pashinyan publicly appealed to the clergy with a demand to remove Catholicos Garegin II from office. The prime minister accused him and the Armenian clergy of working for Russia.

On June 25, the Investigative Committee of Armenia reported the preparation of terrorist acts with the aim of seizing power in Armenia by members of the Sacred Struggle movement, led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. Large-scale searches were conducted in the homes of Galstanyan and his supporters. A total of 17 people were arrested, including Archbishop Mikael (Gevorg) Ajapakhyan.

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