NSS chief ousted over refusal to target Karapetyan — analyst

PanARMENIAN.Net - Claims surface that former NSS chief was ousted for refusing to act against church supporters and Karapetyan.

Political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan suggested in a Facebook post that the recent dismissal of Armen Abazyan, the now former head of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS), is linked to his refusal to act against businessman Samvel Karapetyan.

Melik-Shahnazaryan said there had been prior reports that the NSS had also refused to take action against citizens who welcomed the Catholicos at the airport.

“Armen Abazyan has been dismissed from his post as NSS director. Some say the reason was his refusal to follow Nikol’s demand to act against Samvel Karapetyan. I can’t confirm. But there were reports a few days ago that the NSS refused to target those who greeted the Catholicos at the airport,” he wrote.

He questioned Abazyan’s past actions, particularly his alleged role in dismantling the presidency in Artsakh. “Reports say Abazyan forced Samvel Shahramanyan not to run and did everything to ensure Artsakh no longer had a president. Yet something changed when it came to the Church — even Abazyan hesitated.”

“And I keep wondering — what did Abazyan gain from acting against Artsakh? Was this his reward? Nikol corrupts everyone in turn — uses and discards them,” he concluded.

On June 18, businessman Samvel Karapetyan left his Yerevan residence with law enforcement. Earlier, he had voiced support for the Armenian Apostolic Church: “I stand with our Church and people. Let them try to tarnish us — I don’t care about them or their grid. The people will speak, and they’ll realize they were wrong.”

In response, Prime Minister Pashinyan wrote: “Why have the immoral ‘clergymen’ and their immoral ‘benefactors’ become so active? No worries — we’ll silence them again. This time, for good.” He later added the Electric Networks of Armenia must be nationalized swiftly.