Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called for an investigation into the origins of the wealth of all the country’s so-called national benefactors. The issue was raised at a November 5 press briefing, when he was asked about new allegations against philanthropist, businessman and Strong Armenia Party leader Samvel Karapetyan. Karapetyan is accused of abuses at Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) involving more than AMD 64 billion.

“The situation is very simple: were there abuses or not? Everything must begin with an answer to that question. If law enforcement agencies – the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor’s Office – have taken this step, knowing that the issue would be subject to speculation, they must have compelling grounds for initiating the process,” Pashinyan suggested.

The prime minister went on to claim that, for more than 30 years, plunder in Armenia had been disguised under other concepts and terms, such as “Azerbaijan, Aliyev, Turkey, and so on.”

“The question is this: if there were abuses, what should the law enforcement system do? Act. That is the demand and requirement of the people. If there was abuse involving AMD 64 billion, what does Aliyev have to do with it? This is precisely why the origins of the wealth of our so-called benefactors need to be investigated,” Pashinyan said.

Briefly mentioning the presumption of innocence, the prime minister assured reporters that the matter would receive a legal assessment.