Armenian Businessman Samvel Karapetyan Charged with Inciting Seizure of Power
Russian-based Armenian businessman and founder of the Tashir Group, Samvel Karapetyan, has been charged with making public calls for the seizure of state power, his legal team has confirmed.
Lawyer Armen Feroian told reporters that Karapetyan rejects the charges brought against him. He added that Armenia’s Investigative Committee has petitioned the court to detain Karapetyan.
The case emerged after Karapetyan publicly voiced support for the Armenian Apostolic Church amid a recent dispute between some clergy members and government representatives.
On June 17, Karapetyan said he stood with the Church and warned that if politicians failed to resolve the situation, “they would intervene in their own way to stop the campaign against the Church.”
Following this statement, law enforcement authorities conducted a search of Karapetyan’s residence. On the night of June 18, he left his home accompanied by Deputy Chief of Police Vardan Vardanyan.
Karapetyan is currently at the Investigative Committee undergoing questioning.
