The key facts

  • Samvel Karapetyan was detained after a search of his mansion; supporters gathered outside the Investigative Committee in Yerevan
  • He is charged with abuse of official authority in the private sector; the investigation claims a 'criminal group'
  • More than 30 people have been detained in the case, including the leadership of Electric Networks of Armenia

Detention and protest outside the Investigative Committee

In Yerevan, supporters of Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the 'Strong Armenia' party and owner of Tashir Group, gathered outside the Investigative Committee building after his detention. This was reported by Gazeta.Ru citing News.am. A crowd began gathering in the morning at Karapetyan's mansion, where a search was being conducted; after the search ended and the businessman was detained, people moved to the Investigative Committee and chanted his name. According to the outlet, a tense atmosphere persists outside the building, with a steady stream of citizens.

The charges brought and the scale of the case

Karapetyan's supporters express dissatisfaction with the authorities' actions, calling the criminal prosecution a politically motivated attempt to eliminate competition — this is the assessment of his supporters, which the investigation does not share. After questioning, the businessman was charged with abuse of official authority in the private sector, and was then taken to the anti-corruption court for the selection of a preventive measure. The investigation claims that a 'criminal group' headed by Karapetyan was operating, which included the director general of Electric Networks of Armenia, his deputy, members of the board of directors and other persons; they are suspected of embezzling property on an especially large scale. In total, more than 30 people have been detained in the case.

What is known and what remains unknown

The publications describe the events of November 4: the search, the detention, the questioning and the referral of the case to the anti-corruption court. The court's decision on the preventive measure and details of the alleged embezzlement are not reported in the available materials. The supporters' claim that the case is politically motivated remains their assertion; the authorities' official position on this matter is not cited in the sources.