Latest news with #SamvelKarapetyan
Russia Today
11 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Jailed Russian-Armenian tycoon wins lawsuit against Yerevan
A Stockholm arbitration court has blocked the Armenian government from moving forward with plans to nationalize a major electricity supplier owned by a jailed Russian-Armenian billionaire. Samvel Karapetyan was arrested in June on charges of calling for the seizure of power after publicly supporting the Armenian Apostolic Church in its confrontation with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government. Following his arrest, Pashinyan stated that 'it is time to nationalize' Karapetyan's company Electric Grids of Armenia and called for swift action. The Armenian parliament later passed legislation enabling the state to confiscate the company. In response, the Karapetyan family filed a lawsuit with the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC), a tribunal that specializes in commercial and investor-state disputes, invoking a 1995 bilateral investment treaty between Armenia and Cyprus. On Tuesday, the tribunal ruled that Armenia must refrain from enforcing the new laws and from taking any further steps to seize the company. The SCC stated that such measures would make it difficult for the plaintiffs to recover full damages if they lose control over the firm. The decision is binding on the Armenian government. Karapetyan is one of several high-profile figures to have been targeted in Yerevan's recent crackdown on the opposition. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and the head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Bishop Mikael Ajapakhyan, have also been detained. Furthermore, earlier this month, an Armenian court ordered the arrest of opposition lawmaker Artur Sarkisyan on charges of conspiring to stage a violent coup. The arrests were in response to a wave of mass protests led by the church and its supporters. Demonstrators accuse Pashinyan of betraying Armenia's national interests by handing over several border villages to Azerbaijan, a move the prime minister has defended as necessary to normalize relations with Baku. Moscow has said it is closely monitoring the developments, especially those concerning Karapetyan, who holds Russian citizenship. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that while the unrest is an internal matter for Yerevan, Moscow wants Armenia to remain 'a prosperous and stable country that is friendly to Russia.'
EVN Report
5 days ago
- Business
- EVN Report
Marathon Press Conference, Issues of Connectivity and New Political Parties
In EVN Report's news roundup for the week of July 18: a U.S.-backed proposal to lease a 32-km stretch of Armenian territory linking Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan raises questions over sovereignty; PM Nikol Pashinyan holds a marathon press conference on regional connectivity, Armenia's EU path, the CSTO and more; and from detention, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan announces plans to launch a new political party.
OC Media
15-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Armenia * The homes of more figures affiliated with the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) were searched by Armenian authorities on Thursday, resulting in the arrest of at least seven individuals. The ARF's supreme council called the raids part of a 'campaign against the ARF'. * In addition, Vaghinak Kazaryan, the director of Tashir Pizza — owned by detained Russian–Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan — has also been arrested and remanded into one month of pre-trial detenti
EVN Report
14-07-2025
- Business
- EVN Report
June on View
A high-stakes clash involving PM Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian Church and oligarch Samvel Karapetyan has triggered political, religious and geopolitical tensions, with Pashinyan calling for the nationalization of Armenia's power grid amid charges of foreign interference and subversion. Read more As Armenia focuses on defense reforms aimed at deterrence, Azerbaijan intensifies its military build-up and superiority despite ongoing peace talks. Sossi Tatikyan analyzes diverging strategies, spending and alliances, highlighting how the military imbalance threatens regional stability and undermines prospects for lasting peace. Read more As Armenia reorients its foreign policy away from Russia, it is deepening ties not only with the West, but also with non-Western partners. Hovhannes Nazaretyan explores Armenia's evolving engagement with Central Asian states as part of that strategy. Read more In light of the Iran–Israel conflict, Raffy Ardhaldjian argues that civil defense is a core function of sovereignty and a tool of statecraft—less about technical fixes, more about political will. Armenian political thought, he stresses, begins with readiness, not rhetoric. Read more Exploring the Armenian-Argentine experience, Tigran Yegavian asks whether a diaspora can sustain Armenianness without a homeland, reflecting on identity, disconnection, and the enduring spirit that binds a dispersed people across generations and continents. Read more Armenia's electric vehicle market is booming, driven by import incentives and global trends. But as EV adoption accelerates, the country faces a looming challenge: how to safely recycle lithium-ion batteries in a system unprepared for hazardous waste disposal. Read more Facing limited childcare options and short parental leave, many Armenian mothers are forced to choose between career and caregiving. Hranoush Dermoyan explores the systemic failures behind Armenia's childcare crisis, and what it means for women, families and economic growth. Read more Armenia's tech sector is scaling rapidly, contributing around 7% of GDP and drawing global attention. Davit Manukyan highlights key trends from the 2025 Tech Market Insights report that reveals a complex ecosystem filled with both success stories and challenges. A critical reflection on Armenia's national pavilions at the 2025 Triennale Milano and Venice Biennale of Architecture, Maria Gunko explores how they navigate themes of heritage, technology and everyday architecture, offering contrasting visions of authenticity, identity and the politics of representation. Read more Reflecting on her own struggle with imposter syndrome, Sheila Paylan unpacks the weight of inherited trauma and the seduction of Armenian exceptionalism. Through the lens of identity and confidence, she calls for both an individual and collective shift—from needing to be seen as exceptional to doing the work of becoming truly excellent. Read more Azerbaijani activist Bahruz Samadov was imprisoned for his pro-peace stance. In this open letter, Sheila Paylan highlights the brutal cost of dissent under Azerbaijan's authoritarian regime and the moral failure of silence in the face of repression. Read more Judith Simonian's solo show at JJ Murphy Gallery in New York unveils vivid, layered canvases where absence, abstraction and narrative tension converge. Her psychologically rich, formally inventive works transform everyday scenes into uncanny meditations on memory, perception and the human subconscious. Read more World Bank senior economist Julie Rosenberg discusses Armenia's path to green growth, focusing on reducing natural gas dependency, expanding solar energy, addressing water management challenges, and implementing key policy and financing reforms outlined in the Country Climate and Development Report. The June issue of SALT explores how tradition and reinvention meet across culture, style and taste. We look at the comeback of film photography, feature a visual story of open-air ballet, visit a restaurant blending Jewish and Korean cuisines, and talk to Syrian- and Lebanese-Armenian hairdressers. Plus, an essay capturing the energy of Yerevan Wine Days.
JAMnews
09-07-2025
- Business
- JAMnews
"Nationalization of Armenia's electric networks would collapse Russian influence": Opinion
Nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia Armenia's parliament has approved a bill to nationalize Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), with only lawmakers from the ruling majority voting in favour. Both opposition factions voted against, calling it a 'company takeover' and warning it could damage Armenia's investment reputation. ENA has been operated by Tashir Group since 2016. As of April 2017, its shareholders are Tashir Capital (70%) and Liormand Holdings Limited (30%). The owner of the Tashir holding is Russian businessman of Armenian origin Samvel Karapetyan. The second company is also affiliated with him. Karapetyan himself has been under arrest since June 18 on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the move on Facebook the same day: 'The time has come to nationalize Electric Networks of Armenia. This will happen soon.' Political analyst Robert Ghevondyan says the move should be seen in the context of neutralizing Russia's 'hybrid attacks' on Armenia: 'Nationalizing only the electric networks is not enough to stop the 'russification' process. ArmRosgazprom and the South Caucasus Railway must also be returned to Armenian control.' Is there a connection between arrest of Karapetyan and nationalization of ENA? The basis for the arrest of Tashir holding owner Samvel Karapetyan was his interview. Speaking about the standoff between the Armenian authorities and the church, he said he supported the clergy. At the same time, Karapetyan stressed: 'If the political forces of Armenia fail to handle this situation, we will have to intervene in our own way in the campaign against the church.' The ruling team believed that the phrase about intervening 'in our own way' could imply the use of weapons. The businessman's lawyers argue that he was referring to reconciling the church and the government. They describe the case against their client as political persecution. Meanwhile, the prime minister does not consider it a coincidence that Karapetyan became publicly active after he personally instructed government members to 'compensate for the damage caused to the people by the company or nationalize the company.' Pashinyan clarified that he had ordered the use of financial compensation mechanisms for ENA's violations a month and a half before Karapetyan's statement in support of the church. Details of the bill allowing the nationalization of the company According to the legislative amendments, the management of ENA can be transferred to a temporary administrator. The mechanism described in the bill works as follows: the government can report the company's violations to the Public Services Regulatory Commission, in this case, the head of the commission must initiate administrative proceedings within a maximum of 5 days. The head of the Public Services Regulatory Commission is also granted the right to apply 'preventive measures,' including the appointment of a temporary administrator. As a result, the company's management can be replaced within a few days. The ruling team does not answer questions about possible candidates. Searches and detentions at ENA Early in the morning, the Investigative Committee conducted searches at Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), as well as at the home of the company's board chairman, Narek Karapetyan. It was reported that 'urgent investigative actions' were being carried out within the framework of a criminal case. The searches lasted more than five hours. According to Narek Karapetyan, law enforcement officers seized 37 documents, two caps, a digital storage device, and cash as a result of the search. 'ENA created an energy crisis in Armenia': Pashinyan 'During my many visits to the regions, I noticed with surprise and dissatisfaction that, in fact, ESA's activities had nearly created an energy crisis in Armenia. My analysis suggests that all of this was done—and is still being done—to provoke internal discontent in Armenia,' the prime minister told journalists. According to Nikol Pashinyan, 'the church is just a smokescreen for the former owners of ESA, which they will soon become.' The prime minister stressed that nationalization is not a one-step process. He explained that the adoption of the bill is merely the first stage: 'The state will take over the management of the electric networks. And from that moment on, we will discuss further scenarios in a calmer environment.' By the time of publication, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan had signed the law allowing the nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia. 'We will fight by all legal means': ENA representative David Ghazinyan, the acting director general of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), believes the company is being targeted in what he described as a 'no-holds-barred fight.' However, ENA plans to legally challenge the process that has been launched: 'We will fight by all legal means. We have a strong legal team. We are in the right, and being right makes us several times stronger.' According to Ghazinyan, the authorized body—the Public Services Regulatory Commission—has never even hinted that ENA's operations could justify terminating its license. On June 18, the Public Services Regulatory Commission fined Electric Networks of Armenia 10 million drams ($26,178) for identified technical and commercial violations. Samvel Karapetyan and his family are even considering initiating international arbitration against Armenia. They stated that they had submitted a formal notice to government bodies regarding an investment dispute, based on an investment protection agreement signed between Armenia and Cyprus 30 years ago. The reason is that they also manage ENA through their Cyprus-registered company, Liormand Holdings Limited. Comment Political analyst Robert Ghevondyan notes that Russia has always shown interest in Armenia's economic activity. As a result, it acquired or gained control over various sectors of Armenia's economy. Among the long list of acquisitions by Russia or Russian state-affiliated private companies are Armenia's gas supply, railways, mobile communications, and manufacturing enterprises. 'The main motive was the total 'russification' of the state. This was meant to eventually allow full control over Armenia's regional and global politics, and, when the right opportunity arises, to integrate Armenia into Russia's main integration project, the Union State,' the analyst believes. He stresses the fact that the presence of a pro-Russian government in Armenia, led by President Robert Kocharyan, served as a 'fertile ground' for this project. Ghevondyan recalls that Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC was initially sold to the Russian company Inter RAO Holding B.V. And after large protests in Armenia against price hikes in 2015, the Russian owner sold ENA to a company owned by Russian businessman of Armenian origin Samvel Karapetyan. According to the political analyst, the bill on the nationalisation of ENA fundamentally changes the logic of 'russification': 'Strengthening the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia and reducing Russian hybrid tools, in turn, leads to the downfall, the collapse of Russian influence.' Ghevondyan says it is not surprising that Moscow is extremely concerned and closely following the developments in Armenia. He points out that both Russian officials and experts, as well as Armenian political forces defending Russian influence and Armenian experts funded from Russia, are voicing criticism of what is happening in Armenia. He views the process that has begun positively. At the same time, he stresses that the nationalisation of ENA alone is not enough to counter 'russification': 'ArmRosgazprom, South Caucasus Railway, and a number of other organisations continue to serve as hubs of Russian hybrid attacks. Just like the electric networks, these infrastructures are also the property of the Republic of Armenia and must be returned to Armenia.' Follow us – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia
