In Armenia, Archbishop Bagrat becomes a candidate for premiership
AAC Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. Sputnik photo
On May 26th, in Armenia, amid anti-government protests, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the parliamentary opposition and head of the Tavush Diocese, announced that he is temporarily suspending his duties as a priest to become the sole opposition candidate for prime minister, according to Sputnik Armenia.
"I have asked His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to freeze my 30-year spiritual service," noted the archbishop. He also emphasized that he never sought to become prime minister, but his struggle has led to this. "I am no longer in the Tavush Diocese, but I continue to remain an archbishop. This is my rank," he said.
As reported by the UOJ, on May 4th, Archbishop Galstanyan, with the blessing of Catholicos Karekin II, began a march from the Tavush region of Armenia and announced protests in Yerevan starting from May 9th against the Armenian government's policies regarding the demarcation of borders with Azerbaijan. Heads of all dioceses of the Armenian Church joined Archbishop Bagrat, starting marches from different regions of Armenia.
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