Armenian court shifts Samvel Karapetyan from detention to house arrest

By Lia Avagyan

An Armenian court has changed the pre-trial measure imposed on businessman Samvel Karapetyan, replacing his detention with house arrest and bail, his lawyer said, marking the first easing of restrictions since his arrest in June.

Karapetyan has been held since June 18, 2025, on charges of making public calls to seize power, an accusation he denies. On Nov. 18, a court extended his detention by a further two months. His defence team filed another motion seeking his release from custody, which the court partially granted.

“After examining our motion, the court decided to partially satisfy it, applying an intensive measure of restraint in the form of house arrest and bail,” lawyer Aram Vardevanyan said in a statement.

Karapetyan’s arrest came shortly after he publicly voiced support for the Armenian Apostolic Church, at a time when the government had launched a confrontational campaign against the church leadership, including calls for the removal of the Catholicos. The timing prompted criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups, who questioned whether the criminal case was politically motivated.

The arrest was also accompanied by a series of Facebook posts by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in which he issued sharply worded comments about the case. Many observers interpreted those posts as a direct signal to law enforcement bodies, raising concerns about political pressure on investigators and the courts, as well as potential abuse of executive power.

Following Karapetyan’s detention, authorities carried out raids against companies linked to his Tashir Group holding. The government also moved to take control of his largest asset in Armenia, Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), the country’s sole electricity distribution company. Management of ENA was placed under government control, and officials subsequently initiated a nationalisation process.

On July 24, 2025, an emergency arbitrator at the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce ordered the suspension of actions aimed at nationalising Electric Networks of Armenia, barring the authorities from altering the company’s management, appointing a temporary administrator, amending its charter, revoking licences, seizing or selling assets, or restricting its normal business operations. The government did not comply with the ruling, and Armenia’s representative for international legal affairs was dismissed after publicly stating that the arbitration decision was binding and subject to implementation.

The moves sparked warnings from economists and business groups, who said the manner in which the government is pursuing the nationalisation of a major utility could undermine Armenia’s investment climate, citing legal uncertainty, due process concerns and potential risks to investor confidence.   

Karapetyan will remain under house arrest while the investigation continues. Further court proceedings are expected.