Karapetyan’s persecution for supporting the Armenian Apostolic Church is more of a cover-up, says expert

The Armenian authorities’ plans to nationalize the Electric Networks of Armenia, owned by Russia-based businessman Samvel Karapetyan, are another step toward distancing Yerevan from Moscow. Karapetyan’s persecution for supporting the Armenian Apostolic Church may be just a reason to seize his business, Evgeny Mikhaylov, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies of the South Caucasus, told RIA Novosti.

“Pashinyan continues his course of moving away from Russia. Thus, Karapetyan’s persecution is an attempt to take control of the Electric Networks of Armenia. They are trying—unnoticed and using Western support—to seize Russian assets and persecute Russian entrepreneurs,” Mikhaylov stated.

The expert also suggested that Karapetyan’s persecution for supporting the Armenian Apostolic Church is more of a cover-up. “They want to negotiate, for example, for higher bonuses on electricity prices or to acquire certain dominant assets, larger shares in particular enterprises where Russian interests prevail,” Mikhaylov concluded.