Opposition leaders detained in Armenia on charges of attempting to seize power

Today, after searches, the National Security Service of Armenia reported the detention of more than a dozen opposition members, including the leader of the "Sacred Struggle", Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan - the main opponent of the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

In addition to him, Karabakh MP David Galstyan, retired colonel Migran Makhsudyan, member of the Supreme Body of the ARF Igor Sargsyan, businessman Tigran Galstyan, MP from the "Hayastan" faction Artur Sargsyan and others were also detained.

Nikol Pashinyan himself published a copy of the "failed" opposition plan to remove him from power on a social network. He believes that the authors of the plan are former Armenian presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, the recently arrested businessman, Russian citizen Samvel Karapetyan and the head of the Armenian Church Garegin II

The Kremlin stated that the statement of the Armenian Prime Minister about preventing an attempted coup in the country is an internal matter for Yerevan.

"Of course, we are interested in the preservation of law and order in Armenia, so that Armenia is a prosperous, stable country, friendly to Russia," the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

Earlier, the Investigative Committee of Armenia reported on the prevention of an attempted terrorist attack and seizure of power in the country, suspecting the leader of the "Sacred Struggle", Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan.

According to the investigation, Galstanyan and a number of supporters planned to form about 200 "shock" groups from former military and police officers. They were supposed to be located in various settlements and take active actions in order to create chaos and confusion.

On June 19, a court in Yerevan arrested Russian businessman, billionaire, head of the Tashir Group of Companies Samvel Karapetyan for two months. Earlier, he publicly stood up for Catholicos Garegin II. Karapetyan was accused of publicly calling for the seizure of power in Armenia.

Последние новости
New car sales in Russia’s North Caucasus fall by 21%
Economy
New car sales in Russia’s North Caucasus fall by 21%
15 August 2026

New car sales across Russia’s North Caucasus fell by 21% in July compared with the same month last year. The sharpest decline was recorded in Dagestan, where the new-car market nearly halved over the year.

Queues at Verkhny Lars border crossing emerge amid rumours of a new mobilisation in Russia
Society
Queues at Verkhny Lars border crossing emerge amid rumours of a new mobilisation in Russia
15 August 2026

Queues remain at the Russian-Georgian border following temporary restrictions on traffic through the Verkhny Lars crossing. The situation has drawn additional attention amid rumours circulating in Russia about a possible new mobilisation, recalling the autumn of 2022, when large numbers of men eligible for military service left the country through the crossing. There is no official evidence linking the current restrictions to any mobilisation measures.

Less than a third of flood victims in Dagestan have received compensation
Society
Less than a third of flood victims in Dagestan have received compensation
15 August 2026

In Dagestan, 82,000 people have received compensation following the devastating spring floods — less than 30% of the residents who applied for assistance. In neighbouring Chechnya, authorities have reported paying out 726 million roubles to those affected.

Georgian opposition insists Russia orchestrated fuel supplies to Abkhazia
Politics
Georgian opposition insists Russia orchestrated fuel supplies to Abkhazia
15 August 2026

Fuel shipments from the Tbilisi-controlled part of Georgia to Abkhazia have sparked a new political conflict in the country. The opposition believes that Moscow and the ruling "Georgian Dream" party are behind the gasoline shipment. Authorities, however, insist that the fuel was supplied by private business and that the trade itself does not violate Georgian law.