The “Fact” daily writes:
A state’s external resilience and stability are never limited solely to official channels or the diplomatic corps. Behind any viable state in the world stand individuals with significant international connections, authority, and major capital — forming a kind of “security cushion” around their own country. For decades, one of the central goals of Azerbaijan’s state strategy has been precisely the neutralization and isolation of such influential figures from the foundations of Armenian statehood, since Baku clearly understands that by weakening them, it weakens Armenia itself. Yet today a situation has arisen in which this longtime enemy program is, remarkably and unimpededly, being brought to life from within the country itself.
The latest documentation of this troubling reality is information published by lawyer Aram Vardevanyan on his Facebook page, in which he presented details of the situation surrounding Samvel Karapetyan. He noted that since June 18, 2025, until today — about 395 days — Samvel Karapetyan has been detained. The lawyer emphasized that back on June 18, 2021, Azerbaijan’s competent authorities had declared Karapetyan wanted, and it recently became clear what great enthusiasm his detention had caused among that country’s authorities.
Revealing this fact, Vardevanyan noted that we are in a disgraceful phase of political persecution, we have political prisoners, and it must be emphasized continuously and unwaveringly that the law must prevail.
This situation best demonstrates a deep and dangerous trend: one of the most important strategic goals of the state policy pursued by Azerbaijan for years has been and remains the isolation and neutralization of influential figures of the global Armenian diaspora — people with major capital and serious international connections. In past decades Baku tried by every means to achieve this on various international platforms, but today, unfortunately, by a remarkable coincidence, all of this is becoming reality precisely within Armenia itself — at the hands of local authorities and amid absolute inaction.
Notably, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had recently personally targeted Samvel Karapetyan, openly speaking about his European and pro-European ties, his international influence, and the enormous lobbying work he has carried out in defense of Armenian state interests. This is no coincidence. Samvel Karapetyan is a figure whose international connections — from the Russian Federation to the highest Western circles — have repeatedly and publicly been used effectively for the benefit of the Republic of Armenia.
In this context, the most crucial fact is that his enormous external connections and capabilities were not directed toward expanding his own businesses, acquiring new commercial privileges in those countries, or building new economic empires, but were invested directly in strengthening Armenian statehood. Moreover, this was done not for the sake of this or that temporary leader or political figure of the Armenian state, but for the sake of the Armenian state itself and its endurance. He has been and remains at the core of preserving and strengthening Armenian statehood.
And what do we have today? Samvel Karapetyan, whose international lobbying and European influence terrified Baku, has already been isolated and detained for about 400 days over a public statement in defense of the Armenian Church. The targeting and isolation of such a significant figure is a direct and devastating blow to the spine of the Armenian state. The most painful and dangerous part is that Armenian state institutions not only display absolute inaction in defending Armenian interests on the external front, but also blindly continue, within the country itself, the very policy of Azerbaijan aimed at neutralizing influential Armenians.
When Baku’s wishes and the actions of Armenia’s law enforcement system arrive at and meet at the same point, this ceases to be a legal process. This is such a disgraceful phase of political persecution, in which, due to personal ambitions or political fears, the state’s external resilience and levers of influence are being dismantled — exactly as our adversaries had dreamed.
Details in today’s issue of “Fact” daily.