Russian-Armenian businessman files slander claims against Armenian  premier, deputy head of RA premier`s staff 

ArmInfo. Russian businessman of Armenian origin, head of the Tashir Group of Companies Samvel Karapetyan filed lawsuits against the press secretary of the Prime Minister of Armenia Nazeli Baghdasaryan, deputy head of the office of the Prime Minister of Armenia Taron Chakhoyan, as well as political  scientist Harutyun Mkrtchyan. This was reported by the Datalex  judicial and legal information portal.

In the lawsuits against all three persons, the businessman demands a  public apology and compensation in the amount of 9 million drams.  Earlier, he filed similar lawsuits against two members of the  Armenian parliament from the ruling Civil Contract faction.

In particular, Karapetyan demands a public apology from Nazeli  Baghdasaryan for the offensive statements made against him in her  publications on her Facebook page.

Karapetyan is demanding in court that Baghdasaryan refute her claims  that the businessman allegedly canonized himself due to the presence  of an image in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, as well as that he  "interferes in the internal political life of Armenia on orders from  another country with the aim of undermining statehood." In the  lawsuit against Chakhoyan, Karapetyan demands a public apology for  offensive statements in which he suspects the businessman of  espionage. In particular, Chakhoyan stated: 

"This is Armenia, where those who fight against the state and  statehood will feel the power of the state on their faces," "Didn't  you believe that we said that the taste of the state will remain in  your mouth? This is not the village of Nizhny Tapir in Kaluga. This  is the Republic of Armenia. I hope the taste of the state will remain  in your mouth," and others.

Karapetyan also demands that political scientist Harutyun Mkrtchyan  be forced to make a public apology.  They concern statements made  during interviews for the media outlets "Haykakan Zhamanak" and  "Yerkir", as well as those published on Facebook, in which it is  claimed that Samvel Karapetyan, with his statement of 17.06.2025, was  not trying to defend the Armenian Apostolic Church, but under this  pretext he was planning to engage in politics in Armenia, acting as  an agent to the detriment of the country.

In all three lawsuits, if it is impossible to post the text of the  refutation on Facebook, Karapetyan demanded that within five working  days after the decision comes into force, a refutation be issued in a  print run of at least 5,000 copies in any printed newspaper  distributed throughout the Republic, publishing the same text of the  refutation.

Philanthropist and president of the Tashir Group Samvel Karapetyan  was detained on the night of June 18 in Yerevan by Armenian law  enforcement agencies after he expressed support for the Armenian  Apostolic Church. This was followed by open threats from the Prime  Minister. On the night of June 19, the Yerevan Court of General  Jurisdiction arrested Samvel Karapetyan for two months. He is being  held in the Yerevan- Kentron Penitentiary (the famous "KGB basement"  in the building of the National Security Service of Armenia). He is  accused of publicly calling for the seizure of power in the country.  Karapetyan does not admit guilt.