Russian Armenian billionaire Karapetyan to remain in custody

The Anti-Corruption Court of Appeal has rejected a motion to release Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan from custody, his lawyer Aram Vardevanyan said.

Karapetyan, the founder of the Tashir Group, has been held in Yerevan since June 18 after he publicly called for the overthrow of Armenia’s government. He accused the authorities of conducting an “anti-church campaign” and pledged to stop it “in his own way.” Officials deemed the remarks a threat to seize power, Caliber.Az writes via Armenian media. 

In addition to the initial case, prosecutors have opened a separate investigation into alleged large-scale money laundering and tax evasion involving the Tashir Group, with four company employees detained.

By Sabina Mammadli