Appeals Court replaces Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan’s detention with house arrest

Armenia’s Criminal Court of Appeals has partially upheld an appeal filed by defense attorney Hovhannes Khudoyan on behalf of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, overturning a lower court decision that had ordered his detention. The ruling was issued by a panel chaired by Judge Vazgen Rshtuni. The court ordered that Galstanyan be placed under house arrest for a period of two months as a preventive measure.

The decision overturns a ruling issued on April 23, 2026, by the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction.

Archbishop Galstanyan was arrested as part of a criminal case involving allegations of attempting to seize power and preparing terrorist acts.

Galstanyan has denied the charges against him. His lawyers have maintained that the criminal prosecution is politically motivated and have repeatedly called for his release.

The latest ruling means that Galstanyan will remain under judicial restrictions but will no longer be held in pre-trial detention while the criminal proceedings continue.