Armenia's Investigative Committee explains reasons for search at Tashir Group headquarters in Yerevan
YEREVAN, July 2. /ARKA/. Armenia's Investigative Committee has announced the reasons for the search at the Tashir Group headquarters in Yerevan.
“Emergency investigative measures are being carried out at the Tashir Group headquarters as part of criminal proceedings initiated on charges of money laundering on an especially large scale, non-payment of taxes, duties, and other payments,” the Investigative Committee's press service said.
Samvel Karapetyan, owner of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) and president of Tashir Group, has been under arrest in Armenia since June 19 on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power.
This happened after his meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and his statements of support for the Armenian Apostolic Church amid attacks by the authorities.
After that, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced his intention to nationalize ENA, citing problems in the energy sector. According to him, it is necessary to establish state control over the energy company “quickly and effectively.”
To this end, a package of amendments to the laws “On the Public Services Regulatory Commission” and “On Energy” was submitted to parliament over the course of several days, providing for the start of administrative proceedings by the Public Services Regulatory Commission against the company.
The bill was passed by the National Assembly in its first reading at an extraordinary session on July 2.
Karapetyan's lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, said that the legislative changes are unconstitutional and aimed at interfering with property rights, violating the protection of foreign investments, and damaging Armenia's international reputation.
Samvel Karapetyan's family announced the start of an investment dispute against Armenia in connection with the violation of their rights as investors.
Armenian Electric Networks CJSC is part of the Tashir Group of Companies, owned by entrepreneur and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan. ENA operates medium and low voltage networks in Armenia, serving about 1 million customers.
Since 2016, the Tashir Group has invested about $680 million in the modernization of Electric Networks of Armenia alone, and another $150-200 million in the creation of new capacities. By 2034, it is planned to bring the total volume of ENA's investments in Armenia's energy system to 540 billion drams.-0-
