Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accused Strong Armenia alliance leader and business tycoon Samvel Karapetyan of engaging in espionage activities in Armenia.

“The oligarch from Kaluga should be tried not only for money laundering and for stealing electricity from schools, kindergartens, and military units, but also for acting against the state interests of Armenia,” Pashinyan said, referring to Karapetyan’s ownership of the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) power distribution company, where the government has taken over management due to alleged mismanagement and violations, including overpricing. Pashinyan refers to Karapetyan as the “oligarch from Kaluga” in reference to the Russian city where the business magnate has mostly been based.

ENA is owned by Karapetyan’s Tashir Group.

“In particular, for attempts to bring the issue of the return of 300,000 Azerbaijanis—an issue that does not exist—into Armenia’s domestic political agenda,” Pashinyan continued.

“This espionage activity will not succeed, and moreover, the Kaluga oligarch should now prepare for the fact that he will not be able to leave Armenia for at least another decade. He must be held in a penitentiary institution as a spy, an electricity thief, and a money launderer,” Pashinyan said.

The Strong Armenia alliance has claimed that the ruling Civil Contract party, if re-elected, will pave the way for the “resettlement” of 300,000 Azerbaijanis in Armenia. The Pashinyan administration has described this claim as disinformation.

Karapetyan is currently under house arrest. He faces criminal charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power and money laundering. He denies any wrongdoing and claims that the charges are politically motivated.