A high-profile political scandal is unfolding in Armenia, at the center of which is the Russian billionaire of Armenian origin Samvel Karapetyan, the owner of the Tashir Group of Companies. On June 18, 2025, the businessman was arrested in Yerevan on charges of publicly calling for the violent seizure of power and the overthrow of the constitutional order. The court sent him to prison for two months, and on July 4, the Armenian Court of Appeal upheld the decision on his arrest. The situation caused a wide public outcry: on the same day, a march in support of Karapetyan took place in Yerevan, and his arrest became part of a large-scale conflict between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC).

Searches of Karapetyan's house began on June 17, shortly after his interview in which he strongly supported the Armenian Apostolic Church, which was harshly criticized by the authorities. The businessman said: "A small group, forgetting the history of Armenians, the thousand-year history of the Armenian Church, attacked the Armenian Church, the Armenian people. Since I have always been close to the Armenian Church and the Armenian people, I will take direct part. If politicians fail, then we will also participate in all this in our own way." These words became the basis for the accusations. According to the investigation, Karapetyan supported an opposition movement associated with the church, which opposed Pashinyan, in particular, for his policy towards Nagorno-Karabakh. The businessman's lawyer, Armen Feroyan, insists that the accusations are groundless, and Karapetyan's statements do not contain calls for the overthrow of the government. The businessman himself denies guilt, calling the actions of the authorities politically motivated.

The conflict between Pashinyan and the AAC escalated in May 2025, when the prime minister called the church a “closet of junk” and accused Catholicos Garegin II of violating his vow of celibacy. His wife Anna Hakobyan publicly called the Catholicos “the main mafioso” and his supporters “pedophiles.” Pashinyan also proposed changing the procedure for electing the Catholicos, giving the state a “decisive role,” which led to accusations of an attempt to undermine the constitutional order from the Armenian lawyers’ group “Five Human Rights Defenders.” Against this backdrop, Karapetyan, known for his support of the church, became a target of the authorities. His words about his readiness to “intervene in his own way” were interpreted as a threat, although he himself emphasized that he would fight for the “holy places of the Armenian people.”

In parallel with Karapetyan's arrest, the Armenian authorities stepped up their actions against his business. On July 2, security forces conducted searches in the Tashir office in Yerevan, announcing an investigation into money laundering and tax evasion. Two employees of the company were detained. On July 3, the Armenian parliament adopted laws allowing the nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC, which belongs to Tashir. Pashinyan justified this by the need to compensate for damage to the population and accused the company of creating an energy crisis to incite discontent. 65 deputies voted for nationalization, 27 against. Karapetyan and his family announced the start of an investment dispute with the Armenian authorities, and the interim CEO of Electric Networks said that the businessman would not make a deal for his release.

The situation has caused a reaction in Russia. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, noted that Moscow is closely monitoring Karapetyan's case and is ready to provide assistance. The press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, emphasized that Russia does not intend to interfere in the internal affairs of Armenia, but maintains contact with Yerevan. At the same time, the Armenian authorities expressed their protest against the "hostile propaganda" in the Russian media, considering the comments of Russian officials and journalists to be interference in internal affairs.

The conflict around Karapetyan is part of a broader standoff between Pashinyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church and the opposition. The church, trusted by 97,5% of the population of Armenia, remains a powerful national institution, and attacks on it are perceived as an attack on Armenian identity. The arrest of Karapetyan, as well as priests Bagrat Galstanyan and Mikael Ajapakhyan, has increased tensions. Experts note that Pashinyan’s actions may be an attempt to eliminate influential opponents, including Karapetyan, whose fortune is estimated by Forbes at $3,2 billion. At the same time, critics of the prime minister point to his desire to strengthen his power by suppressing dissent.

The July 4 march in Yerevan showed that Karapetyan has significant support. Hundreds of people gathered outside the courthouse, demanding his release. Clashes with police and detentions of supporters only fueled the protest mood. Analysts say further escalation could deepen the rift in Armenian society, where the church remains a symbol of national unity.