Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and Supporters Protest Outside MFA Building in Yerevan

Today, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and his supporters resumed their protest actions in Yerevan. The group, led by Archbishop Galstanyan, gathered in the courtyard of Saint Anna Church in downtown Yerevan, where their protest actions began.

March from Saint Anna Church

Addressing his supporters at Saint Anna Church on Friday morning, Archbishop Galstanyan announced, "I will not say where we will go. We know our way to where we are going; it will be seen in the course of time." He emphasized the importance of their destination but kept it secret, stating, "We have a very important place to go today, but I won't tell [you] on the way either." Following his speech, the group began their march through downtown Yerevan.

Defiance Against External Threats

During today's march, Archbishop Galstanyan responded to concerns and threats from Turkey, particularly remarks by Nevzat Cicek, the editor-in-chief of the Independent Turkce website. Cicek had stated that Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan should be protected by Turkish special forces. Galstanyan told reporters, "These concerns and fears indicate that we are on the right path. These statements, threats, calls for support to that coward, they will absolutely neither scare us nor keep us back from our path. It means that we are on the right target path."

Tensions and Clashes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The situation became tense outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia, where Archbishop Galstanyan and his supporters held a protest. According to reports by the National Front, special forces of the Armenian police kicked Archbishop Galstanyan during the clash in front of the MFA building. 

As a result of the use of brutal and disproportionate force by the police, some citizens fell ill. People were beaten with clubs, and the police detained several clergymen. The aggressive response by the police highlights the growing tension and the volatile atmosphere surrounding these protests.

Continued Call for Resignation

The protests have been ongoing since the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan was made public. Archbishop Galstanyan's movement continues to demand Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's resignation, reflecting widespread discontent with the government's handling of the border delimitation issue.

Background of the Protests

The protests and civil disobedience actions led by Archbishop Galstanyan started after it was revealed on April 19 that Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed to begin border delimitation in Tavush Province. This agreement sparked significant unrest. On May 9, Archbishop Galstanyan, then Primate of the Diocese of Tavush of the Armenian Apostolic Church, led a protest march from Tavush to Yerevan, calling for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to resign.