“We are in contact with our partners in Armenia, in Yerevan,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists. “This is our important ally, [we have] very developed, very multifaceted relations. And, of course, since [Samvel] Karapetian is also a citizen of the Russian Federation relevant contacts are carried out.”
Peskov gave no details of those contacts. The Russian Foreign Ministry signaled concerns as Armenian law-enforcement authorities cracked down on Karapetian on June 17 hours after he denounced Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church. Several Russian lawmakers openly deplored the criminal proceedings seen by the Armenian opposition as politically motivated.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on June 18 that these statements as well as Russian state TV coverage of the issue constitute “blatant interference in Armenia's internal affairs.” Yerevan has therefore sent a protest note to Moscow, he said.
Karapetian, 59, is a native of Armenia who moved to Russia in the early 1990s and made a huge fortune there in the following decades. He has also invested in Armenia, financed many charity projects there and made lavish donations to the Armenian Church.
Pashinian and his entourage appear to regard Karapetian as a Kremlin proxy who is intent on topping the Armenian government. The tycoon’s representatives have brushed aside such suggestions.
In virtually daily statements issued from prison after his arrest, Karapetian has described Pashinian’s track record as catastrophic for Armenia, predicted his imminent downfall and seemingly staked claim to power.
“Soon our external security will be rebuilt,” he pledged on Sunday.