Former Armenian Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan was arrested in Moscow on Sunday, according to the news outlet RBC.
The Telegram channel 112, which is closely linked to Russian intelligence agencies, reported that Karapetyan is wanted in Armenia on multiple charges, including illegal involvement in business activities, abuse of official authority, and misuse of power.
Officials have not confirmed the arrest, but Russian state media later confirmed that Karapetyan was arrested at the request of the Armenian authorities.
Karapetyan served as an advisor to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from 2018 to 2021. He was appointed defense minister in August 2021 but was dismissed just three months later, on November 15.
In October 2023, Karapetyan accused Pashinyan of betraying Armenia and contributing to the collapse of the army of the breakaway Artsakh Republic in Nagorno-Karabakh. “I was dismissed because I refused to comply with Azerbaijan’s so-called ultimatum and issued orders to open fire on the enemy if they advanced or attempted to invade the Republic of Armenia,” he said.
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