The Union of Armenians of Greece has issued a statement in support of Armenia’s “democratically elected authorities” and strongly condemned groups “sponsored by foreign forces for attempting an armed coup against the legitimate government,” Armenpress reports.

“These same groups were connected, in one form or another, with the 1999 terrorist attack in Armenia’s National Assembly, where eight senior officials, including the prime minister and parliamentary leadership, were killed. Moreover, former officials who gave orders to fire on protesters in 2008—resulting in ten civilian deaths and who remain unpunished—are now directly or indirectly planning a coup using similar tactics,” the statement said.

The Union emphasized that Armenia’s current government was elected with over 70% of the vote in 2018 and more than 50% in the 2021 snap elections, affirming its democratic legitimacy.

It condemned all unlawful actions and media campaigns—both domestic and foreign—that attempt to portray the arrests and prosecutions of those plotting the coup as political repression of opposition forces.

“All political groups in Armenia will have the opportunity to participate in free parliamentary elections in one year and submit their agenda to the people,” the Union added.

The statement stressed that “coup plans against Armenia’s legal authorities, especially when backed by external actors, constitute a threat to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Related disinformation campaigns are seen as “attempts to divert international attention and manipulate public perception.”

On June 25, law enforcement raided locations linked to the Sacred Struggle movement. Investigators allege its leaders were plotting terrorism and a government overthrow. The movement’s leader, Archbishop Bagrat, and 14 others have been detained.

On June 27, masked individuals stormed the Shirak Diocese while Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan was attending a clergy gathering at Etchmiadzin. The National Security Service later detained him. He now faces charges of publicly calling for the violent overthrow of constitutional order, among other grave offenses.