Samvel Karapetyan reaffirms commitment to national values and church

The Tashir Group has shared a statement by businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, who is facing political retaliation following his support for the Armenian Apostolic Church. The full statement is provided below.

“The recent developments have once again revealed the utter bankruptcy of the current Armenian leadership, their blatant hostility toward the Armenian Apostolic Church, disregard for national values, complete intolerance of healthy criticism and compulsive drive to silence dissent. Unfortunately, these are just a few of the current government’s defining features.

And yet, Armenia has always been a nation of principled and courageous individuals. No government – past, present or future – can ever break their spirit. Yesterday, many stood up in protest against injustice, and I am sincerely grateful to each and every one of them.

My homeland and my fellow Armenians have always been at the center of my attention, at the heart of my family’s life and mission. That will never change.

I will never abandon my principles and values, because at their core lies Armenia itself – my profound reverence and love for our homeland, traditions, history and church.

Dear compatriots,

I am confident that we will unite and overcome these difficult times together with God's help.”