Millions for rallies: Karapetyan's associate paid citizens for participating in rallies
According to Armenian investigators, millions of dollars funneled through structures linked to Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan were used to finance political activity and bribe rally participants.
It was in connection with this case that Alik Aleksanyan, a member of the Strong Armenia party and close associate of Karapetyan, was arrested for two months.
According to the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Aleksanyan is accused of materially incentivizing citizens to participate in rallies and demonstrations, as well as laundering funds on an especially large scale.
Investigators allege that between October 2025 and March 2026, approximately 1.6 billion drams (roughly 4.5 million dollars), as well as 230 thousand euros and 75 thousand dollars, were transferred to the accounts of a nongovernmental organization affiliated with Aleksanyan. The funds were recorded as donations and loans from the Tashir charitable foundation and its affiliated structures.
Investigators claim the received money was used to organize crowds at political events. Citizens were recruited to participate in rallies and demonstrations for cash payments made from funds whose origin the investigation considers criminal. To implement the scheme, according to the Investigative Committee, fictitious employment relationships were created: many of the recruited individuals were listed as employees of the organization without actually performing any duties and were later dismissed.
In total, the investigation states, more than 763 million drams (about 2 million dollars) were spent on payments to participants and maintaining the scheme.
Aleksanyan has been charged under articles concerning material incitement to participate in rallies and the legalization of criminal proceeds on an especially large scale. The investigation views the case as one of the largest schemes for financing political mobilization and possible bribery of protest participants in Armenia in recent times.
