Yerevan: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday announced his intention to personally lead the 'liberation' of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) as tensions between the government and the clergy continue.

According to Anadolu Agency, Pashinyan made his statement via Facebook, asserting that the governing body of the AAC has fallen under the influence of an 'anti-Christ, anti-state' group, which he insists 'must be liberated.' Pashinyan accused several individuals, including Garegin II, the head of the AAC, and Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who led protests against him in 2024, of lacking any real connection with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Armenian Investigative Committee reported on June 25 that it had thwarted an alleged coup attempt by Galstanyan aimed at overthrowing the government. The committee accused Galstanyan and others of attempting to instigate a change of power, leading to the arrest of Galstanyan and 14 others. Subsequently, Archbishop Mikael Ajapakhyan, head of the AAC's Shirak Diocese, was also detained.

The AAC expressed its disapproval of Ajapakhyan's arrest, urging the judiciary and authorities to secure his release.