Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan has been charged under the Armenian Criminal Code articles on preparing terrorism, inciting mass unrest, and seizure of power, lawyer Sergey Harutyunyan told reporters.

“This is another political persecution,” the attorney added.

Harutyunyan noted that no weapons or ammunition were found during the search at Archbishop Galstanyan’s house.

“I saw one of the photos publicized by the Investigative Committee, where the weapon is visible, and the document about it next to it. It is obvious that it belongs to someone who, for example, has a permit for that weapon,” the lawyer added.

Sergey Harutyunyan noted that most likely, a petition to arrest Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan will be filed.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that early Wednesday morning, Armenia's law enforcement officers began searches in the homes of supporters of the Holy Struggle movement. They were conducting an operation also at the residence of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, leader of the Holy Struggle movement.

In addition, searches are being conducted in the homes of several members of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party, ARF reported.

And the Investigative Committee of Armenia had announced that "the participants and leaders of the movement called ‘Holy Struggle’ had planned to carry out terrorist acts and actions aimed at seizing power in the RA [(Republic of Armenia)]."