Armenian security forces stormed the headquarters of Electric Networks of Armenia in Yerevan early on 8 July and took the company’s board chairman, Narek Karapetyan, into custody, the Investigative Committee confirmed. Officers also searched his home as part of a widening inquiry into the utility’s ownership and management. The operation comes five days after parliament approved legislation authorising the state to nationalise ENA, the country’s largest electricity distributor. Lawmakers argued the measure was necessary to safeguard a strategic asset and reduce Armenia’s energy dependence on Russian-linked businesses. ENA is owned by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who has been held since 18 June on accusations of calling for the overthrow of the government after he publicly sided with the Armenian Apostolic Church and criticised Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Karapetyan denies wrongdoing. The raids and planned takeover highlight escalating tensions between the Pashinyan administration and business figures with close Russian ties, signalling a broader push to bring key infrastructure under direct government control.