Bagrat Galstanyan

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan emerged in spring 2025 as the most prominent face of Armenian opposition to the Pashinyan government, leading the “Holy Struggle” movement that drew tens of thousands of demonstrators to the streets of Yerevan. His demands centered on the reversal of territorial concessions made to Azerbaijan and what he described as the government’s systematic dismantling of Armenian state institutions and national identity.

In June 2025, Galstanyan was arrested on charges of plotting a coup against the government. His detention was widely condemned by opposition groups, the Armenian diaspora , and international human rights observers as politically motivated. Groong has covered his rise as an opposition figure, the movement he led, and the legal proceedings against him, treating his case as a key indicator of the state of civil liberties and the church-state confrontation in Armenia.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Bagrat Galstanyan.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian Day of Independence: Sep. 21
  • “Strategic Partnerships”
  • Armenian Azerbaijani Talks

Episode 368 | Recorded: September 23, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian Day of Independence: Sep. 21
  • “Strategic Partnerships”
  • Armenian Azerbaijani Talks

Episode 368 | Recorded: September 23, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • September 12-13 Anniversary
  • Between Blinken and a Hard Place
  • More USAID for Armenia
  • Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Episode 365 | Recorded: Sep. 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • September 12-13 Anniversary
  • Between Blinken and a Hard Place
  • More USAID for Armenia
  • Georgian Parliamentary Elections

Episode 365 | Recorded: Sep. 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Role of the Opposition
  • Relations with the Tavush Movement
  • Relations with the Diaspora

Episode 364 | Recorded: September 13, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Role of the Opposition
  • Relations with the Tavush Movement
  • Relations with the Diaspora

Episode 364 | Recorded: September 13, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Background on Amb. Melikian
  • From Revolution to War
  • Goris-Kapan Handover
  • Armenia’s “Pivot” To The West
  • Srbazan Movement
  • Pan-Armenian Diplomatic Council

Episode 352a | Recorded: August 12, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Background on Amb. Melikian
  • From Revolution to War
  • Goris-Kapan Handover
  • Armenia’s “Pivot” To The West
  • Srbazan Movement
  • Pan-Armenian Diplomatic Council

Episode 352a | Recorded: August 12, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Leadership Changes
  • Iran Armenia Relations
  • Russian-Armenian Relations
  • EU Push for an Agreement
  • Srbazan Movement Next Steps

Episode 351 | Recorded: August 6, 2024