The Investigative Committee reported that on June 25, searches at multiple residences revealed a large quantity of items and objects intended for criminal activity. The probe, opened into the leaders and participants of the so-called “holy struggle” movement for preparing terrorism and seizing power, led investigators from the Committee to carry out more than 90 searches jointly with the National Security Service and Police.

During these operations, they found evidence relevant to the criminal case, including weapons and military supplies, operational plans, lists of recruited individuals, metal items, explosives, smoke emitting devices, military uniforms, radio communications equipment, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), plant material resembling narcotics, lists naming individuals to be appointed to government positions after a forceful power seizure, and documents detailing the group’s illegal actions, sequence and timing.

Based on the investigator’s motion, the supervising prosecutor approved public criminal charges against 16 individuals. Currently, 14 people have been arrested under the investigator’s decisions.

Further updates on the criminal proceedings will be issued by the Investigative Committee. The pre‑trial investigation is ongoing.

An unofficial list of those arrested was published online, Sputnik Armenia reports. According to the list, in addition to Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, arrests were made of Artsakh MP Davit Galstyan, reserve colonel Mihran Makhsudyan, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) Central Council member Igor Sargsyan, businessman Tigran Galstyan, activist and father of a fallen Artsakh war hero Ara Rostomyan, Bagrat Galstanyan’s supporter Movses, and blogger Armen Aleksanyan.

Media outlets reported that the National Security Service also searched the home of Artsakh Parliamentary Speaker Ashot Danielyan. In addition, searches were conducted at the residences of former Syunik governor and MP Vahe Hakobyan and his wife, Para TV director Elizabeth Petrosyan. Mobile phones were seized from them, and Elizabeth Petrosyan was taken to the Erebuni investigative division for questioning.

“On the morning of June 25, law enforcement began searches at addresses of ‘holy struggle’ movement supporters. The Investigative Committee stated that participants and leaders of the movement plotted terrorist actions and seizure of power in Armenia.”

“On June 24, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shared on Facebook a civic.am article titled ‘Opposition coup plan’, writing: ‘This process will go down in history as the failed coup of the ‘shtanik’.’”