Armenian court orders two-month arrest for business magnate Karapetyan

The Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction in Yerevan has ordered a two-month detention for Russian-Armenian billionaire businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who was recently detained and charged with inciting the seizure of power, following his public criticism of the government and vocal support for the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Karapetyan’s lawyer has denounced the decision as illegal, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Karapetyan faces charges under Part 2 of Article 422 of the Armenian Criminal Code, including public calls for seizure of power, violation of territorial integrity, rejection of sovereignty, and violent overthrow of the constitutional order.

Earlier reports stated that the Armenian police’s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime detained the Russian entrepreneur on accusations of publicly calling for the seizure of power.

On June 17, Russian-Armenian billionaire and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, head of the Tashir Group of Companies, was detained in Yerevan, Armenia, following a raid on his residence by Armenian law enforcement. The detention came shortly after Karapetyan publicly criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s stance against the Armenian Apostolic Church and expressed support for the institution. Karapetyan has been charged with making public calls to seize power under Article 422, Part 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

By Khagan Isayev