Imprisoned Armenian archbishop demands full release of controversial audio

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the imprisoned leader of the Holy Struggle movement, calls on Armenia’s authorities to release the full, unedited version of a controversial audio recording allegedly linked to him.

Galstanyan was placed in pre-trial detention on charges of plotting terrorist acts and seizure of power in Armenia following a NSS raid at his residence in June. The Investigative Committee released audio recordings purporting to show Galstanyan and others discussing plans for the alleged coup. In one recording, he can be heard talking about "killing two people and imprisoning 15 others", remarks the prosecution claims support its case

In a letter from his detention facility on Thursday, Galstanyan denied the accusations and criticized what he described as a politically motivated smear campaign. He claimed the audio was deliberately edited and taken out of context.

“How can someone with no legal authority imprison 15 people? It's simply ridiculous,” he wrote.

He insists that the complete recording will show the conversation in a different light, devoid of criminal intent.

“I demand the disclosure of the entire conversation,” Galstanyan said. “Otherwise, the lies and slander will remain your responsibility.”

In his letter, the archbishop also condemned a recent attack on opposition MP Artur Sargsyan in the National Assembly, accusing the ruling Civil Contract party of attempting to undermine the movement through slander and provocation.