Karen Karapetyan

Hetq documented a high-value villa built in an area of Yerevan originally designated for public use, registered in Karen Karapetyan's brother's name. Questioned in 2017, Karapetyan did not deny that the house was his. A wider criminal investigation was subsequently opened in 2018 into land transactions in the area, where several former officials had acquired properties.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Documents obtained by Hetq showed that the tax administration purchased 25,000 cash registers at approximately 255 dollars each, compared with an estimated average international price of approximately 121.50 dollars. The administration subsequently opened a criminal investigation, considering that the contract had been concluded at an excessive price detrimental to the state. Hetq also identified connections between the owners of the supplier's local representative and associates of Karen Karapetyan and the former head of the tax authority.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Karapetyan joined former Prime Ministers in guaranteeing the possible release on bail of former President Robert Kocharyan and stated that the proceedings appeared politically charged. This intervention took place amid the prosecution of Kocharyan over the events of 2008.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following the revolution, Karapetyan left the leadership and subsequently the Republican Party and returned to Russian business circles. In 2020, he was described as an adviser to Gazprombank's chairman and a member of a Russian economic advisory body, while stating that he did not intend to return to active politics.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

The close relationship between Karen Karapetyan and Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan is publicly documented, as Tashir Group strengthened its presence in Armenian electricity and infrastructure. Eurasianet reported Samvel's support for the Prime Minister's programme and public partnerships with his group.

State of the evidence

Documented

Under Karapetyan's government, 25 hectares of forest in Arzni were leased to EcoAgro for 60 years at 536,000 drams per year, without competitive tender. Hetq documented that shareholders included relatives by marriage of Karen Karapetyan's son-in-law. The outlet also observed vegetation clearance on the site and raised questions about classification of the project as a 'garden forest' and the contract's transparency.

State of the evidence

Documented

The delegation led by the Prime Minister travelled to the World Economic Forum in Davos aboard a Gulfstream G650 identified by Hetq as belonging to Samvel Karapetyan. The government stated that no budget allocation had been made to charter the aircraft but did not publicly clarify who paid for the flight or whether it was provided free of charge.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following Serzh Sargsyan's resignation on 23 April 2018, Karapetyan became acting Prime Minister. Talks with Nikol Pashinyan broke down over the conditions for a meeting and the transition agenda, with the opposition accusing the Republican Party of seeking to preserve its power structure.

State of the evidence

Established

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

Karapetyan's government made combating corruption a stated priority and notably criminalised illicit enrichment. Freedom House nevertheless considered progress limited in 2017, corruption widespread and several high-level revelations not adequately investigated through criminal proceedings.

State of the evidence

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Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

On the eve of his appointment as Prime Minister, Hetq mapped numerous shareholdings and business activities held by his son Tigran and other relatives, notably in distribution, property, media, fuel and companies linked to Dalma Garden Mall. The investigation also described business partnerships with businessman Samvel Karapetyan and Tashir Group.

State of the evidence

Documented

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Directly implicated

After leading ArmRosGazprom, Karapetyan held several senior positions at Gazprombank, Gazprom Mezhregiongaz and Gazprom Energy Holding in Russia before returning to Armenia as Prime Minister in September 2016. This career path raised questions about Armenia's energy dependence and Russian economic influence.

State of the evidence

Documented

Following Karapetyan's membership of the Republican Party of Armenia, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center Armenia reported that thousands of Gazprom-Armenia employees simultaneously expressed a wish to join the party. The NGO considered that the simultaneity raised serious doubts about whether membership was voluntary and the possible use of the Prime Minister's former professional connections.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

In its assessment of the first hundred days, TIAC acknowledged the high expectations raised by the new cabinet but criticised certain rapid cuts made without sufficient public analysis, areas of opacity in public procurement and the replacement of officials associated with scandals without clear public assessment or known criminal investigations into alleged violations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

Shortly after becoming mayor of Yerevan, Karapetyan banned street trading. Hundreds of vendors protested; published estimates of the number affected ranged from approximately 3,000 to 10,000, with many stating that it was their main source of livelihood.

State of the evidence

Established

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

The municipal campaign to remove kiosks sparked further demonstrations. Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan denounced clear violations of certain owners' rights and the use of force by police. Press reports indicated that approximately 1,200 kiosks had already been dismantled by summer 2011.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

As chief executive of ArmRosGazprom, Karen Karapetyan defended a substantial gas tariff increase linked to the rising price of imported Russian gas. The regulator authorised an increase of 37.5% for households and 17% for businesses from 1 April 2010. Over a thousand protesters supported a legal challenge brought by the opposition, which considered the increase unjustified and socially burdensome.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated