Scrutiny into ENA was launched long before owner's indictment, says PM

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on July 1 that he had instructed the Minister of Infrastructure over a month ago to establish a mechanism for financial compensation against the country’s electric utility, ENA.

“I issued the instruction on May 20, 2025. The ENA was aware of it—they couldn’t have been unaware—and then they chose to ‘stand by the church,’” Pashinyan wrote on Facebook, posting the instructions documents sent to authorized bodies. He implied that this was the reason behind recent remarks by ENA owner and business tycoon Samvel Karapetyan, who expressed support for high-ranking clergymen who are currently accused of illegitimately holding office by authorities.

Karapetyan is currently in pre-trial detention, accused of advocating the overthrow of the government. He denies any wrongdoing.

On June 18, the Prime Minister suggested the idea of nationalizing ENA.

Earlier, Pashinyan accused ENA executives of mismanagement, which he said had nearly triggered an energy crisis in the country. He argued that citizens deserve compensation for damages incurred during frequent power outages.

Subsequently, the government announced a phased strategy to take over control of the national electric utility from the Russian–Armenian billionaire.

The ENA has denied the accusations of mismanagement. It claims that it has been improving its functions.