Armenia’s Court of Appeal upholds detention of Tashir Group head Samvel Karapetyan

Armenia’s Court of Appeal has rejected the complaint filed by the defence of Samvel Karapetyan, the head of the Tashir Group, confirming that the businessman will remain in custody.

The Anti-Corruption Court announced the decision, Sputnik Armenia reports.

The court also dismissed a separate motion submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office, which sought to have the economic-related charges against Karapetyan formally recognised as substantiated.

According to case materials, one of the charges concerned a remark made by Karapetyan in which he said “in his own way”, referring to the defence of the Armenian Apostolic Church from government criticism. The statute of limitations for this charge was five months and was due to expire on November 17.

Karapetyan was arrested in June after publicly expressing support for the Armenian Apostolic Church amid an escalating confrontation between the clergy and the authorities in Armenia.

By Vugar Khalilov