Armenia's court of appeal orders Russian oligarch back to custody Updated

Armenia’s Court of Appeal has ruled to return Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan to pre-trial detention, overturning a lower court decision that had placed him under house arrest on December 30, 2025.

According to the court’s press service, the appellate court granted the prosecution’s request and ordered that Karapetyan be remanded in custody once again, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media. 

This decision reverses the ruling made by the court of first instance at the end of 2025, which had replaced his detention with house arrest.

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The Investigative Committee of Armenia has requested an extension of the detention of Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, according to lawyer Aram Vardevanyan, who shared the information on social media.

Vardevanyan noted that earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office had requested Karapetyan’s re-arrest. The court is expected to announce its decision on January 16. He also confirmed that Karapetyan will not be present at the hearing, Caliber.Az reports. 

Karapetyan was placed under house arrest on December 30, 2025, after a court replaced his previous preventive measure of detention in custody. The oligarch had initially been detained in June 2025 following his public support of the church during a dispute between the clergy and the Armenian authorities.

Subsequently, Armenian authorities brought new charges against Karapetyan, accusing him of laundering large sums of money by allegedly abusing his authority or influence, under paragraphs 2 and 3 of part 3 of Article 296 of the country’s Criminal Code.

By Sabina Mammadli