ArmInfo.The Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia responded to the open letter of the heads of Armenian media regarding the arrest of the owner of the ''H2'' TV channel, entrepreneur Samvel Mayrapetyan, and the accusations.
Responding to allegations that the arrest of property, assets and Mayrapetyan's financial resources automatically lead to closing ''H2''TV, Prosecutor General's Office notes: "If the defense of Mayrapetyan will present the rationale for periodic valid listing funds ''H2'' from the personal funds of the entrepreneur, then measures will be taken to resolve financial transfers with the same frequency and ratio. "
Referring to allegations that Mayrapetyan's state of health is disproportionate to the preventive measure chosen for him, the Prosecutor General's Office noted that the investigating body had begun the procedure to study the health of the accused and for the purpose of forensic examination. In addition, the Investigative Body commissioned at a certain stage of the investigation, having studied all the risks, to allow Mayrapetyan to meet with her relatives.
At the same time, the Prosecutor General's Office considers it unclear the accusations of the media and Mayrapetyan's entourage that the preventive measure chosen in his regard, as well as the arrest of property, assets and financial resources, are a manifestation of pressure on the freedom of speech, as well as the media TV channel ", since the case of Mayrapetyan has nothing to do with the TV channel and its activities. "Guided by this logic, any accusation against any person associated with some media can be presented as pressure on the media and freedom of speech," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement.
To recall, Samvel Mayrapetyan was charged on the grounds of Article 38-311 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (aiding in bribery). Mayrapetyan was detained on October 6. He does not accept the charges against him.