"Zhoghovurd": Samvel Karapetyan will be kept in detention for the third time, extending his term: new application

The “Zhoghovurd” daily writes: “On October 18 of this year, the term of detention of Samvel Karapetyan, Chairman of the Board of the “Tashir” Group of Companies, philanthropist, expires. However, as the “Zhoghovurd” daily has learned, the issue of extending his detention is being discussed in the law enforcement system. This will be the third petition.

Karapetyan's defense attorney stated that the bundle of charges brought against the businessman - money laundering, non-payment of taxes and duties, and their organization - did not "overcome" the threshold of reasonable suspicion during the court hearings.

“However, the court found reasonable doubt in only one episode, regarding the appeal expressed by Karapetyan,” Aram Vardevanyan said.

We are talking about the businessman's statement, which was formulated in the investigation materials as "A call to participate in the process in our own way," and which referred to the processes of repression against the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Judge Tigran Davtyan "cleared" the topic of money laundering and robbery from Samvel Karapetyan, leaving only the expressed opinion and the idea of "Our Way".

However, according to the information of the "Zhoghovurd" daily, the investigation, as such, is not actually being conducted. The philanthropist has been in prison for months solely for the opinion he expressed. Thus, next Monday, the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia is preparing to submit to the court a motion for another extension of the detention period. Will the court this time accept the Investigative Committee's justifications or put an end to the businessman-philanthropist's long-term detention period? It will become clear in the coming days.