Arshak Karapetyan

Arshak Karapetyan (; born 6 February 1967) is an Armenian major general who served as Minister of Defense of Armenia from 3 August to 15 November 2021.

Biography Arshak Karapetyan was born on 6 February 1967 in Yerevan. From 1984 to 1989 he studied in Russia at the Kaliningrad Higher Naval College. He holds the rank of major general. On 20 July 2021, by the decision of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, he was appointed First Deputy Minister of Defense, and on 2 August of the same year, he was appointed Minister of Defense.

Karapetyan was dismissed on 15 November 2021 and succeeded by Suren Papikyan. after reporting full control over the border with Azerbaijan the previous day despite Azerbaijani forces having already infiltrated it. He then established a political group critical of Pashinyan called the All-Armenian Front, which called for closer relations with Russia and Iran.

Karapetyan became wanted in Armenia on charges of illegal participation in business activities and abuse of power. He also has extensive business ties in Russia, including partnerships with Armenian-born Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, with whom he has no biological relation to.

On 29 December 2024, Karapetyan was arrested by Russian authorities in Moscow following a request from Armenia, but was released on bail shortly afterwards.