Armenian Government Jails Another Opposition Leader as Fight Over Constitution and Peace With Azerbaijan Intensifies

Three prominent opposition figures are now behind bars in Armenia as its government pushes to rewrite the Constitution — a change neighboring Azerbaijan demands before signing a peace agreement. The latest, businessman and opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan, was ordered held for one month over an alleged $170 million financial scheme involving the country’s electricity distributor. His party says Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is using criminal prosecutions to silence opponents of the constitutional changes.

The Investigative Committee said Karapetyan is suspected of organizing a scheme that caused approximately 64.5 billion drams ($170 million) in losses to Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) between 2016 and 2024.

Investigators allege that ENA took out loans exceeding its business needs, with the additional funds later distributed to shareholders as unjustified dividends or transferred to other companies. The investigation covers suspected abuse of official authority, large-scale embezzlement and money laundering.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against 36 people, and authorities have issued detention orders in connection with the case.

Karapetyan was detained on November 4 after investigators searched 65 locations, including the home of Narek Karapetyan, head of the Strong Armenia parliamentary faction, and other properties linked to the Karapetyan family.

His party, Strong Armenia, rejected the allegations of wrongdoing and accused Pashinyan of ordering the detention to silence opposition to constitutional changes being pursued by the government.

In a statement, the party linked Karapetyan's arrest to Pashinyan's recent warnings to opposition leaders who oppose constitutional reform, which has become a central issue in Armenia's peace negotiations with Azerbaijan.

"Aliyev is weakening Armenia from the outside, while Pashinyan is weakening it from within," the party said, accusing the prime minister of using undemocratic methods to force through constitutional changes.

The party described the proposed changes as "Aliyev's Constitution," reflecting opposition claims that the government is seeking to amend Armenia's founding legal document under pressure from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Azerbaijan has long demanded changes to Armenia's Constitution, arguing that references to the country's 1990 Declaration of Independence contain territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Pashinyan has also called for constitutional reform, presenting it as part of efforts to establish lasting peace.

Strong Armenia said Karapetyan would continue his political activities despite his detention. It compared the latest case to the government's confrontation with the Armenian Apostolic Church in 2025, which the party described as an unsuccessful campaign against the church.

"Even while in detention in 2025, Samvel Karapetyan united people around the defense of Armenia's national identity and independence," the statement said.

The new criminal case adds to tensions between Pashinyan's government and the opposition over constitutional reform and relations with Azerbaijan.

The Investigative Committee has not presented the investigation as politically motivated. Strong Armenia maintains that the charges are part of a broader effort to pressure the government's critics.

The allegations remain under investigation, and no finding of guilt has been established.

Karapetyan's arrest means three prominent Armenian opposition figures are now in custody. Former President Robert Kocharyan has been detained since August, while Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan has been behind bars since July. On November 5, a court extended Tsarukyan's detention by another three months. All three face separate criminal investigations involving allegations of financial wrongdoing. Their detention comes after Pashinyan publicly called for opposition leaders to be jailed during the parliamentary election campaign, raising further questions among government critics about the treatment of political opponents in Armenia.

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