Amsterdam & Partners LLP documents detention of philanthropist and arrests of clergy amid church-state tensions
Amsterdam & Partners LLP documents detention of philanthropist and arrests of clergy amid church-state tensions LONDON — International law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP has published a comprehensive white paper examining what it characterizes as systematic persecution of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the detention of its client, businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, by the Armenian government.
The 53-page document, titled"Armenia’s Authoritarian Turn: Nikol Pashinyan and the Persecution of Samvel Karapetyan and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church," was originally published in October and details escalating tensions between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's administration and the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the world's oldest Christian institutions. Robert Amsterdam, founder and managing partner of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, argues in the paper that the Armenian government has engaged in actions that violate both domestic constitutional protections and international human rights commitments."The campaign against the AAHC must end," Amsterdam writes in the document's conclusion."Samvel Karapetyan must be released, the charges against him must be dropped, and his business interests must be restored." The Case of Samvel KarapetyanAt the center of the white paper is the case of Samvel Karapetyan, a leading Armenian businessman and philanthropist who was arrested on June 18, 2025 after making public comments in support of the Church. According to the white paper, Karapetyan was responding to alleged"vulgar personal attacks" by Prime Minister Pashinyan on the Church's spiritual leader, Catholicos Karekin II. In his statement, Karapetyan said:"If the politicians fail, then we will participate in our own way in all of this." The white paper contends that this statement constitutes legitimate free speech and that Karapetyan's detention is politically motivated. As of the document's publication, Karapetyan had been held in Yerevan-Kentron detention facility for over 100 days without trial. Karapetyan, who founded the Tashir Group, has been a significant investor in Armenia since acquiring Electrical Networks of Armenia in 2015. According to the white paper, he and his family have invested approximately $700 million in Armenia's electrical infrastructure and employ around 15,000 people across various businesses in the country. The document also details his extensive philanthropic work, including funding church restorations, medical facilities, and providing housing for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. Church-State TensionsThe white paper provides extensive factual documentation of deteriorating relations between the Pashinyan government and the Armenian Apostolic Church since June 2025. According to the document, the Prime Minister published a series of Facebook posts containing personal accusations against Catholicos Karekin II and calling for his removal from office. The document quotes from multiple posts in which Pashinyan allegedly demanded that"the Republic of Armenia should have a decisive vote in the election of the Catholicos of All Armenians" and announced plans to form a coordination group to facilitate the spiritual leader's replacement.With these four clergymembers imprisoned, Armenia has now jailed half of the country’s archbishops. Legal and Constitutional ArgumentsThe white paper grounds its arguments in both Armenian constitutional law and international human rights frameworks. It cites Article 18 of Armenia's 2015 Constitution, which recognizes the Armenian Apostolic Church's"exclusive mission in the spiritual life of the Armenian people, in the development of their national culture and preservation of their national identity." Ex // Top Stories One sure bet for 2026: Trump taking credit No matter what happens in 2026, the president will claim progress Federal funding cuts create concerns in SF for 2026 Implementation of One Big Beautiful Bill, potential reductions to state and city budgets leave nonprofits feeling the squeeze in the new year Midnight store-closure pilot could expand in Tenderloin, SoMa Two supervisors want to grow a program credited with reducing crime by requiring retail food and tobacco stores to close early The document also references Article 17 of Armenia's Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, which prohibits government"interference with the law-abiding activities and internal life of the Church." At the international level, the white paper argues that Armenia's actions violate its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights , particularly provisions protecting freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom from arbitrary detention. The document includes a statement from Siranush Sahakyan, director of the International and Comparative Law Center in Yerevan, who states:"The removal of religious leaders by public authorities raises serious concerns under international human rights law... Any attempt by public authorities to intervene in such matters constitutes an infringement of this fundamental guarantee." International ResponseThe white paper documents statements from several international organizations expressing concern about developments in Armenia. The World Council of Churches issued a statement in July 2025 noting that"reports of force being used within sacred spaces and the detention of clergy raise significant concerns about the protection of religious freedom, the sanctity of worship, and the autonomy of religious institutions." Christian Solidarity International called for"the Armenian authorities to release the incarcerated archbishops and all other political prisoners, and to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the ." The document also notes that domestic Armenian civil society organizations have criticized the government's actions, with one open letter stating that they"violate the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the principles of the protection of human rights and the rule of law, the independence of the judicial system, and the autonomy of the ." Business Seizures and Investment DisputesBeyond the criminal charges, the white paper details what it characterizes as politically motivated economic coercion against Karapetyan. On June 18, 2025—the same day as Karapetyan's detention—Prime Minister Pashinyan announced the"nationalization" of Electrical Networks of Armenia. According to the document, an emergency arbitrator appointed by the Arbitration Institute issued an award on July 22, 2025, ordering Armenia to refrain from expropriating the company and taking related actions. The white paper states that the Armenian government rejected this decision the following day. The document also describes actions taken against other Karapetyan business interests, including investigations into Tashir Pizza outlets and legal proceedings to appropriate the Yerevan Circus, which Karapetyan had invested over $10 million to restore. Looking ForwardThe white paper concludes with a call for international pressure on Armenia to respect religious freedom and release detained clergy and Karapetyan. Amsterdam writes:"The international community must come together to denounce Pashinyan's acts and to urge a course correction." With Armenian parliamentary elections scheduled for June 2026, the document suggests that tensions between the government and Church may intensify in coming months. The white paper notes that recent polling shows only 13% of Armenians express support for Prime Minister Pashinyan, while 79.4% trust the Armenian Apostolic Church. Amsterdam & Partners LLP specializes in international law, arbitration, and complex cross-border disputes. The firm has represented clients in matters involving investment treaty arbitration, international criminal law, and human rights advocacy.*The San Francisco Examiner newsroom and editorial were not involved in the creation of this content.
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