YEREVAN—Armenian authorities have escalated their crackdown on government critics, with security forces conducting a raid Tuesday evening at the Yerevan residence of prominent businessman Samvel Karapetyan, hours after he issued public remarks defending the Armenian Apostolic Church and criticizing the government’s stance toward it.
Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire and owner of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) and Tashir Group LLC, was not detained during the raid but has since been summoned to court. As of Wednesday, legal proceedings are underway to determine whether he will be arrested. Prosecutors have petitioned the court to apply pre-trial detention as a preventive measure.
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Pashinyan is well on his way to tyranny.
How embarrassing to see Armenians fighting. With all the enemies we have historically had trying to crush us, is this time to be petty? Let him say what he wants. It’s time for Armenians to support Armenians. Enough!
I guess there is no “freedom of speech” in Armenia. Becoming a dictatorship?
Recent events involving Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan—particularly the criminal investigation initiated following his public remarks on June 17—have sparked domestic and international commentary. While some have characterized these developments as political retaliation, a closer and objective assessment suggests that the Armenian government has acted within its legal mandate and constitutional responsibilities.
The Republic of Armenia, as a sovereign democracy, has a duty to protect constitutional order and safeguard institutions from undue influence or destabilization. Mr. Karapetyan’s public comments—stating that “if political leaders fail, we will intervene in our own way”—cannot be viewed as benign opinion. In the current regional context, where national sovereignty and internal cohesion are under pressure, such language can reasonably be interpreted as encouraging extra-constitutional action.
The government and law enforcement agencies have a legal obligation to investigate any statements that suggest a threat to the democratic process, regardless of the speaker’s status or prior affiliations. Armenia’s Criminal Code, like those in most democracies, prohibits public calls to seize or usurp power by unlawful means. The application of this law is not a matter of repression but a matter of upholding democratic norms.
It is important to recognize that wealth or philanthropic activity does not confer immunity from legal accountability. While Mr. Karapetyan has long held influence in business and political circles, Armenia’s post-2018 political transformation has been driven by a commitment to dismantling impunity and ensuring equal treatment under the law.
The assertion that the legal case against him is politically motivated overlooks the seriousness of his statements and the constitutional duty of the state to respond to potential incitement. Armenia cannot afford a precedent where powerful individuals, under the cover of religious or patriotic rhetoric, make ambiguous but dangerous claims about replacing or overriding democratic institutions.
The recent regulatory actions concerning ENA and the Tashir Group, including fines and inspections, have been portrayed by some as retaliatory. Yet the public record shows that these issues—particularly chronic service disruptions and technical violations—predate Mr. Karapetyan’s interview.
The government’s renewed focus on utility regulation and the possible nationalization of ENA reflect strategic policy debates, not personal vendettas. In fact, nationalization of critical infrastructure is a legitimate policy option debated in many countries, especially when public dissatisfaction with essential services is high.
The suggestion that routine food safety inspections across Tashir Pizza locations are part of a targeted campaign lacks evidence and unfairly undermines the credibility of state regulators performing their standard duties.
The Armenian Apostolic Church headquartered in Etchmiadzin Armenia plays a cherished role in Armenian history and identity. However, the principle of separation of church and state is fundamental in any secular democracy. The government has not targeted the Church as an institution but has rightfully raised concerns about certain figures within the Church engaging in overt political activism, often in alignment with influential private interests.
The government’s response is not anti-religious—it is pro-democratic, seeking to ensure that no institution, regardless of historical stature, oversteps its role in a modern, accountable state.
The developments of recent days are not evidence of a crackdown, but rather of a government acting firmly and lawfully to preserve Armenia’s fragile democratic order, protect public infrastructure, and ensure no individual or group operates above the law.
Criticism and debate are healthy in a democracy—but they must be grounded in facts, not assumptions. Those who invoke national unity and constitutional values must also respect the legal processes that sustain them.
Pashinyan, is that you posting here incognito, to “justify” his arrest?
Sound bites and rhetoric—similar to Armenia’s “friends” in the world
It is only in Armenia that I hear Armenians make such brazen statements, amounting to an ultimatum towards the government. I agree with Hagop.
When it comes to authoritarianism and corruption, the supposed “democrat” and “anti-corruption fighter” Pashinyan, certainly outdid his predecessors Sargsyan and Kocharyan. He became worse than them. At least, these two were not unpatriotic like him. That’s the only positive thing I can say about them.
And those fools who still defend and claim that Pashinyan is a democrat and a patriot, should be ashamed of themselves, but they won’t.