Armenian PM promises job security for loyal employees following electricity distribution company’s nationalisation

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has assured that loyal employees of the Electric Networks of Armenia company will retain their jobs following the government's recent nationalisation of the company.

Pashinyan issued a strong warning to employees of the company against coercing colleagues or subordinates to take part in rallies supporting Samvel Karapetyan, head of the Tashir Group, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

During a recent parliamentary session, MP Sona Ghazaryan raised concerns over reports that employees of Electric Networks of Armenia company - owned by Tashir Group - were being pressured to join demonstrations in support of Karapetyan. Karapetyan’s preventive detention is currently under review in a court in Yerevan.

Responding to these allegations, Pashinyan assured that employees who refuse to obey such unlawful orders and report them to law enforcement will be protected by the state and their testimonies will be officially recognised. The prime minister also stated that following the nationalisation of Electric Networks of Armenia company, loyal employees will retain their jobs. Conversely, anyone found coercing others to participate in the rallies will face criminal charges.

Samvel Karapetyan, prominent Armenian-Russian businessman and head of the Tashir Group, warned that if Armenia’s political leaders fail to halt Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC), he and his associates will intervene.

Karapetyan condemned attacks on the Church, highlighting its millennia-old significance to the Armenian people.

Shortly after his statement, Armenian media reported Karapetyan’s detention by law enforcement, though official details remain unclear.

Police have also begun searching his home and detained several individuals.

By Naila Huseynova