Galstanian said he discussed his “forthcoming actions” with lawmakers representing the Hayastan and Pativ Unem blocs as part of ongoing consultations with various opposition groups supporting his bid to oust Pashinian. He met last week with the blocs’ respective top leaders, former Presidents Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian.
“It is my duty to present to everyone where we are going,” Galstanian told journalists. “Even if I am alone, this struggle must continue because for me this is also about the biography of my life in a certain sense.”
The outspoken cleric plans to meet with thousands of supporters at a concert hall in Yerevan on September 22. He again refused on Monday to shed light on his next moves, saying only that “the removal of evil” remains his main goal.
The parliamentary leaders of Hayastan and Pativ Unem reiterated, meanwhile, that they continue to support Galstanian’s movement.
Protests erupted in Armenia’s northern Tavush province in April following Pashinian’s decision to cede four local border areas to Azerbaijan. Galstanian, who headed the provincial diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, quickly emerged as their leader.
After failing to scuttle the land transfer, Galstanian shifted the protests to Yerevan in early May to demand Pashinian’s resignation. He failed to topple the prime minister despite attracting tens of thousands of people to his rallies. His most recent rally in the capital took place on June 17.
The Armenian Apostolic Church officially voiced support for Galstanian and his supporters as they marched from Tavush province to Yerevan on May 7. The 53-year-old archbishop publicly demanded Pashinian’s resignation two days later.
Pashinian claimed that the church’s supreme head, Catholicos Garegin II, is the real “leader of this process.” He also blamed unnamed “external forces” for the massive protests.
The church responded by saying that it is not seeking any “political power.” Later in May, Garegin’s office announced that Galstanian has been relieved of his “ecclesiastical and administrative” duties while retaining his episcopal rank.