International Human Rights Committee draws RA Prosecutor General`s  attention to law-enforcers` actions 

ArmInfo. In connection with the detention in Yerevan of the President of the Tashir Group of  Companies Samvel Karapetyan, the Vice-President of the International Committee for the Protection of Human Rights Ivan Melnikov addressed the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia Anna Vardapetyan  with an appeal.

"In connection with the information about the violation of the rights  of the Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, who defends the  Armenian Church and who is currently being detained in the territory  of the Republic of Armenia on unproven suspicions of committing a  crime, I inform you of the following: in accordance with the norms of  the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the UN,  the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental  Freedoms, other norms of international law and the laws of Armenia,  persecution for expressing freedom of thought and religion is  inadmissible (Article 9 of the Convention for the Protection of Human  Rights); discrimination on religious grounds is prohibited (Article  14), persecution for freedom of speech and expression is prohibited,  and unjustified invasion of privacy is inadmissible. I ask you to  take measures to prevent illegal actions by law enforcement agencies  and promote the observance and protection of the rights of citizens  and Christian believers, in particular, the right to freedom of  speech. I also ask you to bring to justice those guilty of attempts  to illegally detain persons when such violations are detected," Ivan  Melnikov said in his appeal.

Samvel Karapetyan was detained last night in Yerevan by Armenian law  enforcement agencies. This happened immediately after the businessman  spoke out in defense of the Armenian Apostolic Church.