On June 25, Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) raided the residence of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the opposition Holy Struggle movement, as part of a growing crackdown on political dissent. NSS officers were seen exiting the property with confiscated packages, the contents of which have not been disclosed.

Lawyer Hovhannes Khudoyan, who attempted to represent the Archbishop during the operation, was denied entry.
“An investigative operation is underway. I’ve come to participate as legal counsel, but my professional duties are being obstructed,” Khudoyan said, demanding to know who had issued the order to block his access.

The raid is part of a broader sweep targeting members of the Holy Struggle movement and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party. Authorities also searched the homes of multiple ARF members across the country.

The Investigative Committee has accused Holy Struggle leaders and activists of plotting terrorist acts and attempting to seize power. The sweeping nature of the investigation, combined with the involvement of clergy, has raised alarm among human rights groups and political observers.

As of now, the NSS has not provided public details on the evidence behind the raids, and no formal charges have been filed against Archbishop Galstanyan. The incident marks a new escalation in tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration and the growing opposition movement led by the archbishop, a vocal critic of recent government policies.