Tashir Group President Samvel Karapetyan ready to spearhead newly created Mer Dzevov political party
YEREVAN, October 20. /ARKA/. Tashir Group President Samvel Karapetyan arrested in Armenia for public calls to overthrow the government is ready to spearhead the Mer Dzevov (In Our Way) political party, which will be created based on the popular movement of the same name.
The announcement was made by his lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan at a Sunday march following a rally organized in defense of the business tycoon and also some high-ranking clergy arrested earlier this year.
Vardevanyan said he personally met with Karapetyan in the detention center, who asked him to inform his supporters of this decision.
During a rally held in Freedom Square, Narek Karapetyan, coordinator of the In Our Way movement, stated the importance of being prepared to participate in the next parliamentary elections, slated for 20256 June 'to remove the Civil Contract party led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from power'.
"We must fight poverty and unemployment and have development programs. We will defend our church. Our struggle will be peaceful but consistent," Karapetyan stated.
Rally participants then gathered outside the National Security Service building, where the arrested president of the Tashir Group and archbishops Mikael Ajapakhyan and Bagrat Galstanyan are being held.
Protesters held posters with a photograph of Samvel Karapetyan and flags with the slogan Mer Dzevov.
The march was led by Samvel Karapetyan's nephew, Narek Karapetyan, with family members and relatives of the arrested businessman marching in the front rows. Demands were made for the release of political prisoners Samvel Karapetyan and the clergy, and the crowd chanted slogans such as "We will fight our way."
Samvel Karapetyan has been in custody since June 18. By decision of the Anti-Corruption Court, his detention has been extended until November 17.
He was first accused ofpublic calls for the seizure of power and later of large-scale tax evasion and money laundering.-0-
