Searches at Samvel and Narek Karapetyan’s homes: Investigative Committee targets 65 addresses
- Published
- Place
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Since early morning on Wednesday 4 November, Armenia’s Investigative Committee has been searching the home of Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the opposition party Strong Armenia, and that of his nephew Narek Karapetyan, who heads the party’s group in parliament. According to the Committee, 65 addresses are being searched simultaneously in a case handled by its department for economic crimes and smuggling. Several Armenian media outlets link the case to Electric Networks of Armenia, the power distributor owned by Samvel Karapetyan’s group; the Committee has not detailed the allegations. Deputy Speaker Aram Vardevanyan, who came to the scene, denounced a “political order”. According to Karen Karapetyan, Narek’s father, the search of his son’s flat ended with nothing found, but the children’s computers were taken away.
Analysis
The Karapetyans have become Nikol Pashinyan’s main opponents. Samvel Karapetyan, arrested in June 2025 over public calls to seize power, spent more than six months in custody before being placed under house arrest, a measure extended again in September. His party, now in parliament, is fighting the draft new constitution, which it calls the “Aliyev constitution”. In a statement, Strong Armenia accused the prime minister of acting “out of fear”. According to the family, this is the third search of Samvel Karapetyan’s home this year.
Possible consequences
The searches were still under way at several addresses in late morning. The Investigative Committee has not yet specified the exact subject of the case or whether anyone is a suspect; further announcements are expected during the day.
