Strong Armenia leader and Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) owner Samvel Karapetyan has commented on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that “ENA will become state property and will be transferred to trust management.”
“They still have to be able to seize it before they can hand it over. That is why there are courts in Armenia and international courts. We are now fighting against their unlawful actions,” Karapetyan said, according to Factor.am .
Asked about the current stage of that legal battle, Karapetyan replied that the process is progressing step by step. He was also asked about the status of his reported process of renouncing his citizenships.
“When I have the opportunity to be released from house arrest, then you can ask me that question,” he said.
Karapetyan also responded to accusations by government representatives that ENA had inflated charges, including at the expense of kindergartens and the military.
“They have been managing it for one year and two months, and there is not a single piece of evidence,” he said, describing the allegations as irresponsible.
Commenting on opposition unity, the Strong Armenia leader said active efforts are underway to consolidate opposition forces but declined to provide further details.
“We are uniting very actively, don’t worry,” he said, refusing to specify with whom discussions are taking place.
On June 29, ENA’s temporary manager Romanos Petrosyan said the government would decide in mid-July to designate Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC as property serving an overriding public interest, to be followed by a market valuation and compensation. In early August, he said the process would begin within a few weeks.
On May 8, it became known that the government had offered ENA owner Samvel Karapetyan’s family $380,000 for the company. Karapetyan considered the amount unacceptable, and the negotiations did not take place.
