On July 9, 2025, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan signed amendments enabling the nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC (ESA). The company was owned by the Tashir Group, led by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who was arrested on June 18, 2025.
The amendments grant the Public Services Regulatory Commission extensive powers over energy companies. This includes the authority to remove owners and initiate forced sales. This follows a series of events involving Karapetyan and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Karapetyan's arrest and the nationalization of ESA are part of a broader investigation into the Armenian Apostolic Church. Authorities allege a plot to overthrow Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government. The situation has implications for Armenia's political stability and international relations.