Armenian NSS conducts search at billionaire Samvel Karapetyan’s house in Yerevan

The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia conducted a search at the Yerevan house of Samvel Karapetyan, an owner of the “Tashir” Group of Companies, after the businessman had expressed his support for the Armenian Apostolic Church. Forty-five people were detained near the Samvel Karapetyan’s house. The Armenian Apostolic Church and the opposition condemned the persecution of Samvel Karapetyan.

The search has been conducted at the Yerevan mansion of billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, the president of the “Tashir” Group of Companies.

“Several people have been brought to a police station. Operational actions are underway,” reported Tigran Airapetyan, an advocate of Samvel Karapetyan, as quoted by the “News-Armenia” agency.

The information reporting that officers of the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia conducted a search at the Samvel Karapetyan’s house has been confirmed by businessman’s advocate Tigran Airapetyan. He has also noted having no information about the alleged detention of the businessman.

Samvel Karapetyan visited the Catholicos of All Armenians in Echmiadzin in connection with the attacks of the Armenian authorities on the Armenian Apostolic Church and religious figures and expressed his support to the patriarch. Samvel Karapetyan believes that the current unacceptable situation will be resolved through the participation of politicians. “If politicians fail, then we will take part in this in our own way,” Samvel Karapetyan stated as quoted by the “News-Armenia” agency.

Forty-five people were detained near the Samvel Karapetyan's house, the “News.Am” news agency reported with reference to Karen Karapetyan, a businessman’s brother.

Armenian law enforcement officers did not detain billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, the owner of the “Tashir” Group of Companies, and he stays at home, the press service for the “Tashir” Group of Companies reports. “No detention took place, and he stays at his home in Yerevan,” the RIA “Novosti” news agency quoted the spokesperson for the “Tashir” Group of Companies’ press service as reporting.

The press service for the “Tashir” Group of Companies released a statement by entrepreneur and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan.

“I will fight for the shrines of the Armenian people with all my strength, wherever I am and whatever happens. I will not allow anyone to encroach on our shrines in pursuit of their own goals,” claimed Samvel Karapetyan as quoted by the “Aysor.Am” publication.

Samvel Karapetyan is ranked 44th in the Forbes rating of Russian billionaires, and his fortune is estimated at 3.2 billion US dollars. The billionaire owns the “Tashir” Group of Companies and the “Rio” shopping mall chain, the RBC reports today.

The Armenian Apostolic Church and the opposition condemn the persecution of Samvel Karapetyan

The Mother See of Etchmiadzin has called on the Armenian authorities to stop the political persecution of Samvel Karapetyan.

“It has recently become known that immediately after the expression of support for the Armenian Apostolic Church, the law enforcement bodies attempted to arrest national philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan. His house is currently being searched. We strongly condemn this persecution, which has a clear political background. We call on the Armenian authorities to immediately stop their unlawful actions,” the “News.Am” news agency quotes the Mother See of Etchmiadzin’s message as stating.

The actions against Samvel Karapetyan are aimed at intimidating and silencing all influential defenders of the Armenian Apostolic Church. This is a signal to other businessmen and public figures, claims Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a member of the “Armenia” faction.

“Today, our compatriots have once again witnessed how and why campaigns to discredit, persecute oppositionists and carry out other unlawful actions have been carried out over the years. However, one thing is clear: there are not enough prisons in Armenia for all the defenders of the Armenian Apostolic Church,” stated Ishkhan Saghatelyan as quoted by the “Aysor.Am” publication.

The Republican Party of Armenia also spoke out in support of Samvel Karapetyan and called the actions against the businessman unacceptable and shameful, being directed against national identity.

“The Republican Party of Armenia strongly condemns the actions of the regime against Samvel Karapetyan. The regime’s actions against the national philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan are outrageous and unacceptable <...> Samvel Karapetyan is not only one of the largest philanthropists of the Armenian Apostolic Church, but also a supporter of the unity of Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora,” stated Eduard Sharmazanov, a member of the executive body of the Republican Party of Armenia.

Samvel Karapetyan, as an entrepreneur and as a philanthropist, has done and is doing a lot for both Russia and Armenia, helping to improve the image of the country in the world. As a Christian believer, he has done a lot for the benefit of the Armenian Apostolic Church, emphasizes Ara Abrahamyan, the head of the Union of Armenians of Russia. “Today’s actions by the Armenian authorities with regard to Samvel Karapetyan are another attempt to intimidate the public and demonstrate that the government is ready to take any step, that there are no red lines for it,” stated the head of the Union of Armenians of Russia as quoted in the Union’s Telegram channel.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 17, 2025 at 08:02 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.