Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced the newly appointed Director of the National Security Service (NSS), Andranik Simonyan, to the agency’s staff, emphasizing that the NSS “effectively confronts the multiple challenges facing Armenia and its people.”

“All the challenges that could have destabilized the Republic of Armenia and created security threats have so far been successfully neutralized,” Pashinyan stated, according to 1lurer.am .

Referencing the “recent foiled conspiracy against Armenia’s statehood, stability, and security,” Pashinyan said that today’s threats “are hybrid in nature, involving elements of terrorism, subversion of constitutional order, and counterintelligence.” He stressed the need to “broaden institutional understanding in handling such multifaceted challenges.”

He affirmed the government’s commitment to “supporting the NSS in enhancing its operational effectiveness for the benefit of Armenia, its statehood, people, and future.”

On the morning of June 25, law enforcement agencies conducted searches at the homes of Sacred Struggle movement members. The Investigative Committee reported that the movement’s leaders had planned terrorist activities and a coup in Armenia. Movement head Archbishop Bagrat was later detained for two months, along with 14 others. On June 27, about 30 masked individuals stormed the Shirak Diocese’s headquarters to arrest Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, who was in Echmiadzin attending a clergy assembly. Ajapahyan was also arrested for two months and now faces charges of inciting actions aimed at seizing power and undermining the constitutional order.