Watch: Violent clash in Armenian parliament as government targets opposition
The political crisis in Armenia has deepened after several opposition members, including leaders of the Armenian Apostolic Church, have been arrested. Important church figures -- Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan -- are in pre-trial detention on charges of being involved in the alleged coup plot.On June 28, many supporters gathered outside the church headquarters near the capital, Yerevan, to stop Ajapahyan's arrest. He later turned himself in. The Investigative Committee claims that the plotters planned bombings, arson, and accidents on main roads to cause chaos. Both church leaders deny these accusations.Ajapahyan and Galstanyan are members of the opposition group Sacred Struggle, which led major protests against Pashinyan last year. Initially focused on territorial losses, the movement has since expanded to broader government criticisms, fuelling tensions between the president and the Armenian Apostolic Church.The government has also targeted other critics. On Monday, police raided a large energy company owned by Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire who has spoken against Pashinyan. Parliament passed a law on July 3 that allows the government to nationalise this company. Karapetyan was arrested shortly before this law was approved, after calling for the government's removal.CONFLICT WITH AZERBAIJANArmenia's political unrest is connected to its ongoing conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Since the early 1990s, the two countries have fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, Armenian-backed forces took control of Karabakh and surrounding areas inside Azerbaijan.In 2020, Azerbaijan recaptured large parts of this territory after almost 30 years. A quick military campaign in September 2023 gave Azerbaijan full control over Karabakh. Armenia also handed over several border villages to Azerbaijan.- EndsTrending Reel
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