Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II visited benefactor, businessman and Strong Armenia party chairman Samvel Karapetyan, who is under house arrest, the Mother See’s press service reports.
“The Catholicos of All Armenians visited national benefactor Samvel Karapetyan, who is unlawfully under house arrest. His Holiness conveyed the blessing of Holy Etchmiadzin to the prominent Armenian and wished him resilience and faith in confronting the current difficulties and trials,” the statement said.
The Catholicos expressed confidence that, despite the current difficulties, Karapetyan, with his characteristic “patriotic and church-loving spirit, will continue to make his significant contribution for the benefit of the homeland and the enlightenment of Armenians worldwide.”
On June 17, 2025, a search was carried out at Samvel Karapetyan’s home after he publicly voiced support for the Armenian Apostolic Church, stressing that a small group, forgetting Armenian history and the thousand-year history of the Armenian Church, had attacked the Armenian Church and the Armenian people. Karapetyan was arrested on June 18. In October, the charge against Karapetyan was amended, with a money laundering charge added. On December 30, his preventive measure was changed, and detention was replaced with bail and house arrest.
