Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian addressed the nation on state television Wednesday night, following the resumption of his rallies in Yerevan aimed at removing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from power.
This time, Galstanian drew a noticeably smaller crowd in Republic Square compared to the larger protests seen in May and June, which were sparked by Pashinyan’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Despite the lower turnout, he assured journalists that this renewed push for regime change was still in its early stages.
Galstanian’s speech was clearly crafted to rally more support, calling for a “broad consolidation” of opposition forces. He urged different groups to set aside their “ambitions and arrogance” and unite for the cause. He also criticized wealthy businesspeople for their perceived loyalty to the current government, accusing them of prioritizing their financial interests over the country’s well-being.
The archbishop, known for his bold oratory, also demanded airtime on Armenian Public Television, which he condemned as a “propaganda machine of lies.” Following the rally, he led a march of supporters to the broadcaster’s headquarters, which was heavily guarded by riot police.
After negotiations, Galstanian was granted the opportunity to speak on air, provided he also answered questions from Petros Ghazaryan, the pro-government news chief and talk show host. In a 12-minute broadcast just after midnight, Galstanian urged Armenians to “wake up” and recognize the severity of the country’s current situation. He announced plans for another rally on Sunday.
In his address, Galstanian once again denounced Pashinyan, calling him a “liar” who is following the orders of Azerbaijan and Turkey. He accused Pashinyan of seeking a “fake peace agreement” with Baku solely to maintain his grip on power.
“We will fight until you are gone,” he said, addressing Pashinyan directly.
During a tense back-and-forth with Ghazaryan, Galstanian, did not elaborate on his policy alternatives and future plans. Meanwhile, Pashinyan’s political allies have expressed confidence that Galstanian’s renewed protests will also fail to oust the government.
