Samvel Karapetyan’s arrest is an act of ‘political thuggery’ — Armen Gasparyan

TV and radio host Armen Gasparyan spoke to Alpha News about the arrest of prominent businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan after his words about supporting the Armenian Church. According to the expert, a common pattern among so-called “democrats” in post-Soviet countries is the loss of national pride and a confrontation with the Church.

“Back in 2018, when this revolution had just begun, I said that bringing a blogger and a not very educated person to power would lead to the loss of national pride—symbolized by Nagorno-Karabakh—and a fight with the Church. This is a common pattern for any ‘democrat’ in post-Soviet countries: the loss of national pride and a fight with the Church, which will oppose it. Next year, Pashinyan has an electoral cycle and to perform more or less successfully, he needs to completely ‘clear the field’. So, he needs to change senior church figures, first of all the Catholicos, because he has influence in the republic. And at the same time, it is necessary to clear the field of those who are currently outside Armenian politics, but under certain conditions could become political forces. That’s precisely what Pashinyan is doing now. From the crude posts made by him and his wife on social media to this arrest—this is an act of absolute political ‘thuggery,'” Gasparyan said.

According to the expert, Samvel Karapetyan should become a symbol of sacrifice and illumination.

“If people come to understand what Pashinyan intends to do to the Church, then Karapetyan could have real political potential. The question is: does he want it, and how much does it matter to him? In more poetic terms, Karapetyan must become a ‘political Danko’—he should tear out a heart and light the way forward with it. But society should want to go, not remain paralyzed, but stand up and go as far as possible,” Gasparyan emphasized.