Civilnet
By Alexander Pracht
Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office and the Court of Appeals have issued opposing assessments on the legality of Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan’s arrest. The Appeals Court ruled his June detention unlawful, while prosecutors insisted the measure was legal and announced they would challenge the decision.
Karapetyan’s defense team announced on Facebook Monday that the appeals court had deemed his arrest illegal, noting he has been in custody for 53 days and that prosecutors are expected to seek an extension.
The Prosecutor General’s Office announced that the court’s finding “has no connection” to the legality of his ongoing detention, which was ordered on different grounds. They said Karapetyan had been released after the initial arrest deemed unlawful, then rearrested under another basis later upheld by the court. Prosecutors said they will file a cassation appeal against the appeals court ruling.
Karapetyan, owner of the Tashir Group, was taken into custody on June 18 for two months following searches at his Yerevan residence. He was initially charged with making public calls to seize power, and later faced multiple additional charges, including economic crimes such as money laundering. Armenia’s monopoly power grid, Electric Networks of Armenia, which Karapetyan owns, has been announced for nationalization, with arbitration proceedings currently ongoing.
Stories
