January 1, Armenia’s Billionaire Jailed as Church Crisis Grows

Wyatt’s Take

• Powerful Armenian philanthropist arrested after criticizing the prime minister over church disputes.
• Critics say the government is silencing faith leaders and political rivals, while the West stays quiet.
• Armenia’s struggle for religious freedom and democracy gains little outside attention.

Armenia is facing a harsh political fight that has landed its wealthiest citizen and several church leaders in jail. The government is locking up those who challenge its control, especially those supporting the church.

Samvel Karapetyan, a well-known Armenian-Russian billionaire, was arrested after he spoke out against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s actions toward the church. His nephew, Narek Karapetyan, said the prime minister quickly went after him for standing up for religious leaders.

“When a journalist asked my uncle what he thought, he said that if politicians will not defend our church, we will do it our way,” Narek Karapetyan said.

Just half an hour later, Pashinyan wrote on Facebook, ‘this philanthropist must shut his mouth,’ and ordered his arrest. Now Samvel Karapetyan sits in a jail cell that used to belong to the Soviet KGB.

Many believe the crackdown is really about keeping power. Samvel Karapetyan is seen as a potential challenger to Pashinyan’s leadership in both business and politics. Narek Karapetyan claims Armenia’s rulers pretend to be friendly with America, but jail critics and church leaders.

“We don’t feel any support now from our Western colleagues and partners because of this,” he said.

Former President Donald Trump tried to settle peace talks between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan last August. Both nations have fought bloody wars over disputed land. But Armenia’s current struggle over faith and freedom was barely mentioned in Washington.

“We think we need to have some support from our partners in the USA and from our partners in the West to make our government more democratic … [and] for us to take back religious freedom in our country,” Narek Karapetyan said.

Since June, top church leaders like Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan have also been arrested, accused of plotting against the government. Pashinyan even called on the church’s supreme leader to step down, claiming misconduct.

The Armenian Church has been central to the country since it became the first Christian nation in 301 AD. Critics warn this is the worst clampdown against the church since Soviet rule. The government denies it’s targeting religion, insisting arrests are legal.

Middle America knows how important faith is to national identity, and how dangerous it gets when leaders attack those standing by old traditions. Faith and freedom go hand in hand.

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Wyatt Matters

When government threatens faith and jails its defenders, regular folks pay the price. Protecting freedom of belief matters to every community, just like it does across our heartland.