Robert Amsterdam: Armenian Government Using ‘Stalin-Era Tactics’ to Silence Church Supporters
- Aug 14, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 21, 2025
International lawyer Robert Amsterdam criticized the Armenian government on Wednesday, calling the detention of businessman Samvel Karapetyan politically motivated and an attempt to distract the public from the government’s failures.
Speaking to reporters in the courtyard of the Anti-Corruption Court in Yerevan, Amsterdam, described the case as a “show trial” and compared it to political prosecutions of the past. Amsterdam said that Armenia was witnessing a historic moment, but a shameful one. He accused the government of trying to cover up its mistakes and failures by targeting the Church, the Christian faith, and an innocent man.
Amsterdam said such actions are a step backward. “This is not the way to greet the 21st century; this is not the way to welcome the era of artificial intelligence. This is a return to Stalin, a return to show trials. I am someone who has seen more show trials than any of you. This is a show trial,” he stated.
When asked by The Armenian Report in an interview about when Karapetyan might be released from custody, Amsterdam replied that it depends on how desperately the government is trying to keep him detained.
He also told us, “The whole point is to divert attention. This has nothing to do with Mr. Karapetyan’s conduct. It is entirely connected to the political needs of this government.”
Amsterdam further said, “This is about provoking a crisis in the Church, provoking a crisis around Mr. Karapetyan. Why attack the Church of Armenia? On what basis are they attacking the children of Jesus Christ in a country where 93% are followers of the Church?”
Amsterdam said he would first wait for the court’s decision later in the evening before deciding on the next steps. He noted that any future actions would be taken both in Armenia and internationally.
The lawyer also said Karapetyan’s arrest raises big questions about Armenia. He said putting such a successful businessman in jail says a lot about the government.
In June 2025, Prime Minister Pashinyan clashed with the head of the Armenian Church, accusing him of breaking his vows, which angered many church followers. Karapetyan, a strong supporter of the Church, spoke out in its defense and warned that a small group had forgotten Armenia’s Christian heritage.
Days later, authorities raided Karapetyan’s home and arrested him on charges of calling for an unlawful seizure of power. On the same day, the government nationalized the Electric Networks of Armenia, a company linked to Karapetyan.
Karapetyan’s family filed an international investment dispute under the Armenia–Cyprus treaty, calling the actions politically motivated and unlawful. In July, they won an urgent arbitration ruling at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce supporting their case.
Karapetyan remains in custody as legal battles continue. His lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, said he would wait for the court’s decision before taking further action.
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Reading this discussion, it’s hard not to feel how quickly political narratives on both sides can harden into absolute positions, especially when religion, identity, and governance overlap so deeply. Whether one agrees with Robert Amsterdam’s framing or not, the core issue seems to be the growing mistrust between institutions and communities in Armenia, where every legal or political action is interpreted through a historical lens shaped by past repression and conflict. That’s why comparisons to Stalin-era tactics, while powerful rhetorically, also risk oversimplifying a very modern and complex dispute. At the same time, governments do have to maintain order and legality, even when facing sensitive religious or political opposition. What’s really needed is transparent dialogue that avoids escalation into ideological…
This report is deeply unsettling and serves as a stark reminder of how political power can be weaponized against faith, culture, and civil society. Robert Amsterdam's comparison to Stalin-era tactics is not hyperbole — when a government raids the home of a businessman simply for defending his Church and then nationalizes his company on the same day, the pattern speaks for itself. What makes this even more alarming is that Armenia proudly identifies as a Christian nation, yet its own leadership appears to be targeting the very institution that has held Armenian identity together for centuries. The international arbitration victory for the Karapetyan family is a glimmer of hope, showing that truth can still find support beyond corrupt local courts.…