Samvel Karapetyan calls for unity around “new force” 

By Gevorg Tosunyan

Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, currently in pre-trial detention, called on Friday for Armenians to unite around a “fundamentally new force,” in what appeared to be his most overt political message since his arrest last month.

In a written statement read aloud by his lawyer Aram Vardevanyan outside Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS), Karapetyan said it is time for Armenians to respond to the government through “civilized and political” means.

“The time has come to unite around a fundamentally new force, to become a single fist,” the statement said. “Nikol Pashinyan and his government are isolated from the Armenian people and our historical values.”

Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire and owner of the Tashir Group, was arrested on June 18 on charges of publicly calling for the overthrow of the government. His detention came two days after he publicly expressed support for the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholicos Karekin II, amid a public confrontation between Prime Minister Pashinyan and Church leaders.

The government has denied political motivation, but Karapetyan’s allies claim the arrest is part of a broader campaign against dissent. The same week, Pashinyan announced plans to nationalize the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA), the country’s sole electricity distributor and Karapetyan’s largest asset in Armenia.

On Thursday, parliament passed a legislative package enabling wide-ranging state intervention in the energy sector, including temporary state-appointed management and expanded powers for regulators. The ruling Civil Contract party said the measures were necessary to ensure energy reliability and consumer protection. The opposition voted against the bill, calling it a pretext for expropriation.

Also on Thursday, Armenia’s Court of Appeals upheld Karapetyan’s pre-trial detention. His legal team had withdrawn their appeal, citing concerns about judicial impartiality, but the judge proceeded to rule on the matter regardless.

Karapetyan’s family has filed a formal investment dispute against the Armenian government under a bilateral treaty with Cyprus, signaling a potential international arbitration case. His arrest and the nationalization effort have drawn criticism from civil society groups and former officials, who warn of growing pressure on courts and the business community.

Government critics also point to a broader trend of investor-state disputes, including arbitration cases involving Armenia’s mining, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Legal experts say such cases are damaging to the country’s investment reputation.

Members of the ruling party have accused Karapetyan of acting with Russian backing, though they have not presented evidence. Armenia’s government has not commented publicly on his latest statement.