Narek Karapetyan considers the Investigative Committee of Armenia`s accusations against Samvel Karapetyan regarding the misuse of ESA funds absurd.

ArmInfo. The head of the Strong Armenia faction, Narek Karapetyan, called the Investigative Committee of Armenia's (IC) report on Samvel Karapetyan's misuse of funds raised for the needs of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC absurd.

Speaking to journalists outside the Investigative Committee of Armenia building, he recalled that the company belongs to Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan. "This is Karapetyan's personal company, 100%; everything there belongs to him. What kind of misuse on the part of the owner can we then speak of?" the faction leader asked.

In his opinion, this is simply an attempt to influence people's emotions, but he expressed confidence that Armenian citizens understand well what is really going on. "As they say, 'If you have the courage, you'll find the right one,'" Karapetyan quipped.

He reiterated his belief that what's happening is connected to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's attempt to persuade the opposition to vote for a new Armenian Constitution to be put to a referendum. The head of the Strong Armenia faction believes that Samvel Karapetyan's arrest could be used as a bargaining chip. "But I assure you that won't happen. This is not that kind of person," Karapetyan stated.

When asked whether he expected he too might be arrested, the politician noted that anyone could be arrested, but he said they were prepared for anything. The faction leader also said that Samvel Karapetyan intended to make a proposal to the authorities tomorrow, but was beaten to it. The exact nature of this matter, as Karapetyan noted, will become known later.

As a reminder, Aghavni Sukiasyan, press secretary for the Strong Armenia party, reported that investigators from the Investigative Committee of Armenia have been conducting searches since early this morning at the homes of Strong Armenia bloc leader Samvel Karapetyan and the head of the Strong Armenia parliamentary faction, Narek Karapetyan. She noted that searches were also being conducted at other addresses associated with Karapetyan's family. Later, Kima Avdalyan, press secretary for the Investigative Committee of Armenia, reported that searches were being conducted simultaneously at 65 addresses. Following the searches, NSS officers detained Samvel Karapetyan and escorted him out the back door of his home. The Investigative Committee of Armenia subsequently announced that Samvel Karapetyan is accused of embezzling loan funds received for the needs of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC. Thirty-five more people were detained along with him.

It should be added that Pashinyan previously stated that if the parliamentary opposition resists the adoption of the new Constitution, the ruling majority will begin to generate public pressure. He also noted that "the authorities could formulate a proposal for the parliamentary opposition regarding the new Constitution that they will be unable to refuse." -