The National Assembly’s “Hayastan” faction has condemned the measures taken against Russia‑based businessman Samvel Karapetyan, describing them as “illegal and destructive.”

They stated: “The great benefactor of the Armenian nation, Samvel Karapetyan, today responded to the government’s improper encroachments by defending the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. Immediately followed Nikol Pashinyan’s brazen calls for retribution against the businessman and illegal orders to law‑enforcement bodies. In the context of exceptionally dangerous regional developments, such unacceptable and irresponsible governance actions and illegal measures are destructive and demand nationwide unity.”

Earlier, the Mother See also issued a statement strictly condemning the ongoing developments.

On the night of June 18, businessman Samvel Karapetyan left his Yerevan villa and departed with law‑enforcement officers. A few hours earlier, he issued a statement in support of the Armenian Apostolic Church: “I stand by our church, by our people: however hard they try to blacken it, no electric grid… I don’t give a damn about them, or their grid. Everything will be fine, the people are united, will speak out, they will understand that they were wrong,” he said.

In response, Pashinyan wrote: “Why have the profane ‘clergy’ and their profane ‘philanthropists’ become active? Nothing—they’ll wait again. Moreover, forever.” He later added that the Power Distribution Company (HECI) must be nationalized, and very quickly.