The escalating political struggle for power in Armenia is nearing its climax. In the early hours of June 25, Armenia’s fragile democracy was jolted by the announcement of a foiled coup attempt. The country’s Investigative Committee laid bare a well-coordinated plan orchestrated by the so-called “Sacred Struggle” movement, led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. Their objective was clear: to forcibly overthrow the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, not through mass protest or democratic pressure, but through terrorist acts and organized violence.

According to official sources, the group aimed to deploy up to 250 paramilitary strike teams—made up of ex-police and military personnel—to seize power. These units were to operate independently, without knowledge of each other's roles, mimicking clandestine insurgency tactics more common in war zones than democratic states.

That such a plan even existed is alarming enough. But more telling is who stands behind it: remnants of Armenia’s old elite, figures tied to the separatist movement in Garabagh, and, crucially, influential actors within the Armenian Apostolic Church. This isn’t merely another failed power grab—it’s a flashpoint in a longer struggle for the soul of Armenia.

In many ways, this coup attempt is the culmination of political currents that have simmered since the 2018 Velvet........

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