17 detained in Yerevan following clashes between Police and Samvel  Karapetyan`s supporters 

ArmInfo. According to  information from the  press service of the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs received by ArmInfo, seventeen people have been detained as a result of clashes between supporters of the Strong  Armenia party chairman, Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel  Karapetyan, and police outside the Anti-Corruption Court.

"Seventeen people were detained and taken to public police units for  committing an act under Article 182 of the Administrative Offenses  Code of the Republic of Armenia," the Armenian Ministry of Internal  Affairs reported.

Supporters of the businessman gathered outside the Anti-Corruption  Court of Armenia in Yerevan, where a hearing on Samvel Karapetyan's  case is taking place on April 17. Journalists were also reportedly  injured in the brawl. Amid the clashes, Samvel Karapetyan's  supporters reiterated that they were holding a peaceful protest and  called on those gathered not to succumb to provocations. They  chanted, "Freedom for the next Prime Minister of Armenia, Samvel  Karapetyan!"

In a conversation with journalists, Narek Karapetyan, a member of the  Strong Armenia party council, noted that if the preventive measures  are lifted, Samvel Karapetyan will finally have the opportunity to  personally communicate with Armenian citizens. "We are tired of the  Armenian authorities. They are making various statements about the  opposition, but do absolutely nothing to improve the lives of their  citizens.  Meanwhile, political persecution is taking place, lawyers  are not allowed to see their clients, and attempts are being made to  stigmatize the political force," Karapetyan emphasized. Reacting to  the recent detentions of supporters of their political party,  Karapetyan expressed his conviction that the audio recordings  presented by the Anti-Corruption Committee were edited and don't  reflect reality. "The people of Armenia simply must understand that  this is not our signature; we want to rid Armenia of this," the party  council member stated. 

It should be noted that the businessman's pretrial detention will be  a priority consideration during the meeting.