Radar Armenia’s interlocutor is Arman Babajanyan, the chairman of the “For the Republic” party.
– Mr. Babajanyan, what happened in the Stockholm arbitration? Is this a defeat for Armenia?
– No, this is not a defeat, but a temporary measure. Samvel Karapetyan’s team is attempting to politicize a legal process that has a fundamentally different essence. The Stockholm arbitration has only temporarily banned the application of specific provisions until the actual dispute is examined. This is neither a verdict nor a victory, but a legal procedure designed to avoid possible irreversible consequences.
– In that case, why is Armenia talking about nationalization? Is this discriminatory treatment towards the investor?
– Absolutely not. The point is that the state cannot fail to act when control over vital infrastructure is out of its hands. If contracts have been violated, if there are abuses or violations of tax or investment obligations, then the state has the right to review these relationships. This is not a legal process to punish the investor, but to restore state control.
– And is Armenia ready to defend its actions in international arbitration?
– Yes, and for this very reason, the state should immediately initiate an independent forensic audit, involve international legal expert groups, and build a fact-based, invulnerable defense. It must be clearly shown that this process has no political motives, but is based on recording contractual violations and protecting the public interest. This is not just a problem for the current generation. This is a matter of rebuilding trust for generations to come, preserving energy security as a foundation for sovereignty.
– And won’t such processes scare off other investors?
– If Armenia acts illegally or arbitrarily, yes. However, we rely on facts and act transparently, lawfully, and by international norms. In that case, quite the opposite will be true: investors will understand that Armenia is a legitimate state, and no one can exploit it for years with impunity. Trust is built not by silence, but by justice.
– Can this case become a precedent?
– It should. So that Armenia’s strategic infrastructure never again becomes an instrument of political dependence. This case can set a precedent for restoring state control, forming an effective and transparent administration, and ultimately, for implementing sovereignty in practice, because independence is not a word, but rather manageable energy, safe water, stable communication, and aviation and railways under national control.
