Canadian cleric arrested in Armenia in connection to alleged coup attempt
A Canadian cleric of the Armenian Apostolic Church has been arrested in connection to an alleged coup attempt in Armenia. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who leads the Tavush Diocese in Armenia’s northeast, gained attention last year for leading a protest movement calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The movement gained momentum after Armenia made land concessions to Azerbaijan, resulting in the handover of Armenian border villages. Galstanyan, a dual Canadian and Armenian citizen, previously served as primate of the Armenian Diocese of Canada in Montreal.
Pashinyan commended law enforcement for preventing a plan to destabilize his government through acts of terrorism and seize power. The Investigative Committee of Armenia stated that explosives and weaponry were seized, and accused Galstanyan’s movement of planning bombings and road disruptions.
Galstanyan’s movement denied the allegations, calling them “fiction.” Global Affairs Canada confirmed that a Canadian citizen was arrested in Armenia, and consular officials are working with local authorities for more information.
Tensions have escalated between the Armenian government and the Apostolic Church, which criticized Pashinyan after Armenia’s loss to Azerbaijan in a 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan accused Catholicos Karekin II of fathering a child despite celibacy vows, leading to further disputes.
The Canadian government opened its embassy in Armenia in October 2023 and increased staff presence due to conflicts between Iran and Israel. Galstanyan attended the inauguration of an honorary consul office in 2022. In 2020, he gained attention for performing a liturgical hymn in Nagorno-Karabakh during the war against Azerbaijan.
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