Archbishop Bagrat Galstyan, now in pre-trial detention on charges of terrorism, fomenting public disorder and planning to seize power in Armenia, has filed lawsuits against several politicians demanding compensation for non-pecuniary damage.

Galstyan, who headed the Armenian Apostolic Church’s Tavush diocese, claims the politicians verbally insulted and slandered him.

Galstyan led a protest movement in 2024 opposing the Armenian government’s plan to handover border regions to Azerbaijan. Armenia’s National Security Service took Galstyan into custody on June 26 in Yerevan.

The clergyman is demanding six million drams in compensation from ruling Civil Contract MP Vahagn Aleksanyan, three million drams each from Minister of Health Anahit Avanesyan, Republic Party head Aram Sargsyan, Yerevan Municipal Council member Ani Khachatryan, former MP Styopa Safaryan, and political analyst Harutyun Mkrtchyan.