Amsterdam & Partners LLP: Political Prisoner Uses AI to Launch PM Bid Against Would-Be Dictator Who Jailed Him

Samvel Karapetyan announces he will run for PM of Armenia despite house arrest

AI circumvents politically motivated speech restrictions

Pashinyan’s government denounced for failing at everything

YEREVAN, Armenia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Political prisoner Samvel Karapetyan has become the first person in history to announce a prime ministerial candidacy through artificial intelligence.

In a surprise move, top opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan, banned from speaking publicly by state authorities under the control of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, announced that he will lead his newly formed political party, Strong Armenia, into the next election.

Mr Karapetyan, the largest benefactor of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church, made the announcement via a speech he wrote but delivered through an AI generated video, at a rally in the country held on Thursday (February 12).

Announcing his candidature at the rally in Yerevan, Mr Karapetyan said: “By arresting me and keeping me in detention, a tiny clique believed they could silence and isolate not only me, but the voice of Armenia, the voice of our people, the voice of our citizens - the voice of all of you. But once again, they were mistaken and they failed.”

Mr Karapetyan went on to say that he “cannot sit indifferently and watch calmly as my homeland is led to disaster and destruction” by a government that “government has failed at everything.” Therefore, he will dedicate all his “creative potential with all his strength to serving Armenia and our people.”

In June 2025, Mr. Karapetyan was jailed after speaking out in defence of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He was charged with seeking to overthrow the state and is now running for Prime Minister of Armenia in elections to be held in June.

Mr Pashinyan is also seeking to overthrow AHAC’s spiritual leader, Catholicos Karekin II, and replace him with a state-approved cleric. Mr Karapetyan told the reporter:

"Since I have always stood by the Armenian Church and the Armenian people, I will become directly involved. If the politicians fail, then we will participate in our own way in all of this.”

Mr Karapetyan was held in a Soviet-era prison in Yerevan and then in December moved to house arrest.

Robert Amsterdam, a London-based international lawyer, who represents Mr Karapetyan, spoke at the rally and applauded the businessman’s decision to challenge Mr Pashinyan.

Mr Amsterdam said: "I consider speaking on behalf of this great patriot of Armenia to be a high honour and privilege. This is a man who will lead Armenians to honour their religion, culture, and history and not to give in to foreign forces.

“This is a man who understands that peace is not surrender and that as an Armenian, no future plan or political bonus justifies for one day the illegal imprisonment of the Christian martyrs in Baku.

“Samvel Karapetyan’s story is that rare combination of integrity, success, and determination.

“It is, in fact, the willingness of this government to deny both the constitution of the country and the apostolic nature of its church that cries out for a strong answer here today and in the voting booths in June. It is the great irony of our present situation that those who support the rule of law are here today opening a campaign against those who fashion law to fit their personal circumstance.”

Mr Karapetyan’s intervention follows months of acrimony between the Church and the Armenian government which has led to escalating tensions and threats from the Prime Minister aimed at the Church. The Armenian government has said it may seek to seize control of the AHAC, raising concerns about potential violations of Article 17 of the country’s constitution.

Narek Karapetyan, the party’s main spokesperson, said:

“Unfortunately, he is not with us today because the person occupying the prime minister's position is afraid of him and has deprived him of freedom of speech. But they miscalculated one thing in this story: political imprisonment can never imprison an idea. And now we're going to do something unprecedented in history: we have prepared a surprise: the country's future leader's message will be read by Samvel Karapetyan's lawyer with the help of artificial intelligence.

“Nothing will silence our voice and imprison our freedom. Mr. Karapetyan’s party has already published a five-step program to galvanise Armenia’s flagging economy and tackle widespread poverty.

“The key objective is to restructure the economy and make Armenia attractive to export-oriented investors.”

Mr Amsterdam added: “What better way to demonstrate that arrest will not silence you than to announce plans to stand against the political leader that imprisoned you?

“It is no surprise that Mr Karapetyan’s belief in the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church, combined with his judgement that Mr Pashinyan is unfit to lead Armenia, has led to this decision.”

The use of artificial intelligence to deliver the address represents a novel moment in global politics, highlighting how digital tools are reshaping political communication even under conditions of detention and restricted speech. Mr. Karapetyan remains under legal restrictions while preparing his campaign through his representatives and party structures.

Click here to download Mr Karapetyan’s AI speech.

Amsterdam & Partners LLP is an international law firm specialising in human rights and political advocacy, based in London and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.amsterdamandpartners.com. Media enquiries may be directed to [e-mail].