Armenian MP compares Stalin's 1937 and 2025 arrests

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian MP Gegham Manukyan claimed on Facebook that Stalinism has returned to Armenia “in full symbolic force” after it emerged that Archbishops Bagrat and Mikael are being held in the same cell in the National Security Service (NSS) detention center.

In his post, Manukyan criticized what he described as a deliberate act of political persecution. “Stalinist repression and Nikol’s so-called ‘democracy’ go hand-in-hand,” he wrote, referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“The news broke today that Archbishops Bagrat and Mikael are held in the same cell at the NSS detention facility. Is it coincidence, lack of space, or something else?” he asked, answering that it’s a matter of “Nikolian vindictiveness, bloodthirst, and revenge.”

Citing the Prosecutor’s statement, Manukyan pointed out that the charges against the bishops are supposedly connected. But he insisted that during pre-trial detention, co-accused individuals are not only kept in separate cells but usually prevented from even exchanging glances. “I know this from my own two-and-a-half years of experience at the NSS detention center,” he added.

Drawing a historical parallel, Manukyan continued: “Stalinism has returned to Armenia—with full symbolism.

• In 2025, under Nikol’s regime, Archbishops Bagrat Galstanyan and Mikael Ajapahyan are in NSS detention.
• In 1937, under Stalin, Archbishops Artak Smbatyan and Bagrat Vardazaryan were in NKVD basements and later executed by firing squad. Incidentally, our dear, fighting bishop was named after the latter.

There is only one difference: in 1937, judgment came from the NKVD troika. Today, it’s one man—Masis Melkonyan,” he concluded.

According to Yerkir.am, citing a reliable source, Archbishops Mikael and Bagrat are currently held in the same cell at the NSS detention facility. The senior clergymen deny all charges brought against them.