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The Church and Karapetyan: Victims of political persecution, says Eurasianet

The Church and Karapetyan: Victims of political persecution, says Eurasianet

The intensification of a domestic political struggle in Armenia is causing yet another spasm of acrimony between Yerevan and Russia. Key members of the Kremlin propagandagentsia have leapt to the defense of Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, a fierce critic of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a rapidly developing domestic feud that burst into public view on June 18, Eurasianet writes.

Karapetyan made comments supporting the Armenian Apostolic Church. Earlier in June, Pashinyan accused the Church’s primate, Karekin II, of violating his priestly vows of celibacy by fathering a child. The Church has not directly responded to the allegation.

The website notes that Pashinyan reacted to Karapetyan’s criticism by going for the political jugular, authorizing Karapetyan’s detention on suspicion of anti-state activities, adding that the electricity entity that he controls should be nationalized. Pashinyan accused Karapetyan of engineering a power shortage in the country specifically designed to foment public discontent with the government. He gave the power company until June 21 to establish “a mechanism for restoring damage caused to citizens,” or face a government take-over.

Pashinyan’s power play drew a swift reply from Moscow in the form of a media barrage condemning his actions. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova derided Pashinyan as a hypocrite.

The Armenian Apostolic Church also has come to Karapetyan’s defense, calling him a “national benefactor.”

Meanwhile, Karapetyan’s lawyer said his client is a victim of political persecution.

Prisoners of war