Armenian court extends Samvel Karapetyan's pretrial detention for another month

YEREVAN, October 16. /ARKA/. Armenia's Anti-Corruption Court has extended the pretrial detention of Tashir Group president Samvel Karapetyan for another 30 days, his lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, told reporters.

"The court partially granted the investigator's motion... Samvel Karapetyan is accused of calling for the overthrow of the government—it's absurd that something said in an interview is considered a call. He was also accused of alleged economic crimes, and a few days ago, a third charge—money laundering—was added. All three charges are, of course, baseless," Vardevanyan said at the conclusion of a two-day court hearing.

Samvel Karapetyan has been under arrest since June 18, accused of publicly calling for the seizure of power. This occurred after Karapetyan, following a meeting with Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, stated that he had always been on the side of the Armenian Church and the Armenian people, and if politicians were unsuccessful, "we are ready to participate in all of this in our own way."

He was later also charged with economic crimes (large-scale tax evasion and money laundering). Karapetyan denies all three charges against him.-0-