Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the Srbazan Paykar (Sacred Struggle) movement in Armenia, has been formally charged with preparing acts of terrorism, organizing mass riots, and attempting to seize power, his lawyer Sergey Harutyunyan told reporters.
“Charges have been brought against Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. He is being prosecuted under the same articles the Investigative Committee previously announced: preparation of terrorism, mass disorder, and violent seizure of power,” Harutyunyan stated. He added that Galstanyan has been detained for 24 hours and will be brought before a court within that period, with a motion expected to be filed for his pre-trial detention. The lawyers sat the charges are politically motivated.
Earlier, Armenia’s Investigative Committee claimed that a plan to usurp power and carry out terrorist acts was being prepared within the framework of the “Sacred Struggle” movement, initiated and led by Galstanyan. The Committee also released audio recordings involving Galstanyan and other members of the movement, in which they discuss paralyzing the state apparatus, creating chaos, and conducting swift operations using small tactical groups.