Prominent Armenian-Russian billionaire businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan has been detained for two months by the Criminal Court of the General Jurisdiction of Yerevan.
The court decision was announced late Wednesday by Karapetyan’s lawyers, who stated they have not yet received the full written justification behind the ruling. They called the decision “absurd” and vowed to appeal.
“The decision is clearly unlawful and absurd. Naturally, the defense is preparing to appeal this preventive measure, and we expect a fair decision in the near future,” said lawyer Liana Gasparyan.
Karapetyan, the founder and president of the Tashir Group of Companies and a major benefactor of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was charged under Article 422, Part 2 of Armenia’s Criminal Code—public calls for the violent seizure of power. The charge stems from his recent comments defending the Church amid growing tensions between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration and the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. His legal team and supporters say the charges are politically motivated attempts to silence dissent.
In a public statement made the day before his detention, Karapetyan voiced strong support for the Armenian Church and denounced what he described as the government’s campaign against Church leadership.
“I have always stood by the Armenian Church and the Armenian people. If the politicians fail, then we will intervene in our own way against the campaign targeting the Church,” he said.
Authorities interpreted this remark as a veiled threat against the state, framing it as a call to overthrow the government. Karapetyan, however, has denied all charges, calling them fabricated and labeling his detention unlawful. In a message sent to his supporters gathered outside the courthouse, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Church and described the case as politically motivated.
The court’s decision sparked condemnation from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. In a strongly worded statement, the Church accused the authorities of yielding to political pressure and attempting to silence opposition through fear.
“The prosecution against Mr. Samvel Karapetyan is yet another manifestation of the Prime Minister’s anti-Church actions, aimed at depriving the Armenian Church of the support of its faithful flock through intimidation and threats,” the statement read.
It added that the move was a blow not only to the Church, but to the dignity and reputation of the Republic of Armenia. Calling Karapetyan a “national benefactor,” the Church expressed full support for him and his family, asking for God’s protection during this difficult time.
Karapetyan’s detention also comes amid an intensifying government campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church. In early June, Prime Minister Pashinyan publicly accused Catholicos Karekin II of violating his vow of celibacy—an allegation the Church dismissed—and proposed state involvement in the selection of the next Catholicos, a move widely criticized as infringing on religious independence.
The targeting of Karapetyan has extended beyond his arrest. Shortly after his detention, Pashinyan announced plans to nationalize the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA)—a major utility company wholly owned by Karapetyan’s Tashir Group—stating, “this will happen soon.” The Public Services Regulatory Commission also imposed a fine of 10 million dram (~$25,000) on ENA for a recent service outage. Critics say these actions reflect a coordinated pressure campaign and warn that such moves undermine Armenia’s investment climate and legal stability.
Separately, the Food Safety Inspectorate suspended operations of 3 Karapetyan’s Tashir Pizza outlets in downtown Yerevan,citing sanitary violations. Supervisory measures were held at the dairy production facility owned by “Pizza Tashir” LLC in the city of Tashir, Lori region. As a result, the dairy production activities of the company have been suspended, and a deadline has been set to eliminate the identified violations.
These incidents are widely viewed as part of the state’s broader campaign against Karapetyan’s business holdings.
Samvel Karapetyan, the Russian-Armenian entrepreneur behind Tashir Group, is recognized throughout Armenia and the diaspora not only for his business acumen but also for his long-standing philanthropic contributions. He has invested billions into Armenia’s infrastructure, education, and defense.
Key highlights of his contributions:
- Tashir Group is one of Armenia’s largest private investors, with major projects across energy, real estate, retail, and manufacturing.
- Karapetyan has funded the restoration of historic churches and schools, and contributed to both humanitarian and military support programs.
- He has made significant investments in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), reflecting his sustained commitment to Armenia’s national priorities.
