Pro-Russian oligarch Samvel Karpatyan was arrested in Armenia in connection with the theft of almost 15 billion rubles. According to investigators, the management of Electric Networks of Armenia took loans that the company did not need, and then transferred the money to shareholders and related companies under the guise of dividends, loans and advances. In 2024–2025 alone, more than 23 billion drams (about 5.2 billion rubles) were allegedly withdrawn in this way. Armenia's Investigative Committee considers Samvel Karapetyan, whose Tishir Group of Companies used to own electricity networks, as one of the organizers of the scheme. According to the investigators, the money was transferred through more than ten companies related to Craftian, creating the appearance of normal transactions and mixing them with legitimate income. 36 people are involved in the case, including the management of Armenia's electricity networks, and the investigators estimated the damage to the company at 64.5 billion drams (about 14.6 billion rubles). Karaptian, who heads the powerful opposition party Armenia, is already under investigation in another criminal case. In June 2025, he was arrested on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power after he supported the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which demanded Pashinyan's resignation after the defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh war. The prime minister himself accused the head of the church, Catholicos Karkin II, of breaking his vow of celibacy and asked for his removal. Kraftian said he was ready to intervene in the conflict between the authorities and the church "in his own way" if the politicians could not protect him. The billionaire was later accused of financial crimes, and his power grid company came under state control. Photo: Social networks.

Pro-Russian oligarch Samvel Karpatyan was arrested in Armenia in connection with the theft of almost 15 billion rubles. According to investigators, the management of Electric Networks of Armenia took loans that the company did not need, and then transferred the money to shareholders and related companies under the guise of dividends, loans and advances. In 2024–2025 alone, more than 23 billion drams (about 5.2 billion rubles) were allegedly withdrawn in this way. Armenia's Investigative Committee considers Samvel Karapetyan, whose Tishir Group of Companies used to own electricity networks, as one of the organizers of the scheme. According to the investigators, the money was transferred through more than ten companies related to Craftian, creating the appearance of normal transactions and mixing them with legitimate income. 36 people are involved in the case, including the management of Armenia's electricity networks, and the investigators estimated the damage to the company at 64.5 billion drams (about 14.6 billion rubles). Karaptian, who heads the powerful opposition party Armenia, is already under investigation in another criminal case. In June 2025, he was arrested on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power after he supported the leadership of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which demanded Pashinyan's resignation after the defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh war. The prime minister himself accused the head of the church, Catholicos Karkin II, of breaking his vow of celibacy and asked for his removal. Kraftian said he was ready to intervene in the conflict between the authorities and the church "in his own way" if the politicians could not protect him. The billionaire was later accused of financial crimes, and his power grid company came under state control. Photo: Social networks.