Armenia files additional money laundering charges against oligarch Karapetyan

Armenian investigators have levelled additional charges against detained Russian-Armenian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan, according to a statement from his press service reported by TASS.

Karapetyan, who was already accused of inciting the overthrow of Armenia’s constitutional order, now faces allegations of money laundering tied to the operations of several companies. His legal team strongly denies the accusations, describing the new charges as baseless.

“In recent days, without any grounds, Samvel Karapetyan was charged with money laundering related to the activities of several companies,” the statement read.

Karapetyan’s arrest in June sparked significant controversy, with many observers and opposition figures in Armenia suggesting the case is politically motivated. 

Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian billionaire and owner of the Tashir Group, was arrested in Armenia on June 18, 2025, on charges of inciting an illegal seizure of power. His arrest came amid rising tensions between the Armenian Apostolic Church—which he publicly supported—and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government.

Following his detention, Armenian authorities conducted raids on Karapetyan’s business holdings, including the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), and arrested several executives. Criminal cases were opened involving money laundering, tax evasion, and other financial offences.

By Vugar Khalilov