Opposition MP and ARF Bureau member Ishkhan Saghatelyan stated that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is using political persecution against dissenters to eliminate resistance and secure his grip on power—but will not succeed in breaking the opposition’s resolve.

Speaking to reporters, Saghatelyan dismissed the social media posts by government officials as laughable, especially amid the wave of opposition arrests. “They’re crying out and making hysterical posts. I just saw the defense minister’s post—can’t tell if you should laugh or cry. Are you the defense minister or what?”

He continued: “You lick Turkish boots, the enemy is in Jermuk, you’ve ceded 200 square kilometers of Armenian land and do nothing—and still dare to point fingers and call others traitors.”

“No, you are the traitor, you are the one without a homeland—and frankly, all of you,” Saghatelyan said, addressing Defense Minister Papikyan and other officials.

On June 25, law enforcement began searches at the homes of “Srabazan Pyuqar” movement supporters. The Investigative Committee claims the group planned terrorist acts and a power seizure. Later, it was announced that movement leader Archbishop Bagrat was arrested for two months. Of 16 arrest motions filed, nine were approved, one ruling is due June 26, and the rest will also be reviewed that day.

On June 24, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shared a civic.am article titled “The opposition's coup plan” and commented: “This process will go down in history as the failed coup of traitors.”