Samvel Karapetyan: Armenia has become a pawn in geopolitical games

Prominent Armenian businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, currently in custody, issued a new statement via his legal team on Friday.

Karapetyan accused the current government of recklessly isolating Armenia from strategic ally Russia, pivoting toward the EU without realistic prospects of integration. He argued that Armenia, surrounded by hostile neighbors, has become a geopolitical pawn, facing escalating external pressures masked as peace talks.

According to Karapetyan, this misguided diplomacy risks displacing millions more Armenians, echoing the tragedy of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). He criticized the Armenian leadership’s attempts to appease Russia post-factum, saying trust, predictability and honesty matter to true allies.

“While shouting about sovereignty everywhere and every day, the authorities have turned the country into a tool for strengthening the sovereignty of others,” he stated, calling for a collective effort to restore Armenia’s independence and reliability on the world stage.

"The struggle continues," Karapetyan added.