Samvel Karapetyan’s Detention Extended by Another Two Months

The Anti-Corruption Court of the Republic of Armenia (RA) decided in its session on November 18 to extend the detention period for businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan by two months. Karapetyan’s lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, deemed the court’s decision unfounded, stating that the charges currently being maintained lack sufficient evidentiary basis.

As recently as November 13, the RA Court of Appeals had concluded that the economic nature of the charges brought against Karapetyan were unsubstantiated. According to the logic of that decision, the businessman should have been released. However, on the same day, the RA Court of Cassation made a decision, recording that grounds for the economic charges existed, after which the Investigative Committee immediately moved to request an extension of the detention period.

The criminal prosecution against Karapetyan began back in June of this year, when he had announced his support for the church. The businessman was arrested on June 18, and his detention period was extended again in August.

Karapetyan is charged under Articles 290, 296, and 422 of the Criminal Code (CC) for tax evasion, money laundering, and calls for the violent seizure of power. In October, the charges were tightened: he was presented with an additional charge of money laundering on an especially large scale.

Despite the position of the Court of Appeals, the Anti-Corruption Court once again accepted the Investigative Committee’s justifications and decided to extend the detention. Vardevanyan assured that the defense side will continue to appeal the judicial acts.

Satenik Avetisyan