Lawyer: Samvel Karapetyan`s persecution related to ongoing political  processes in Armenia

ArmInfo.The trial of businessman Samvel Karapetyan continued at the Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia on October 15. The court is considering extending his pretrial detention. The court hearing began at 4:30 PM on October 14  and continued late into the night. The prosecution spent considerable  time presenting its motions.

Today, in a conversation with journalists, lawyer Aram Vardevanyan  pointed out the illogicality of the heavy police presence outside the  courtroom. He recalled that on July 4, 2025, when Samvel Karapetyan  spent less than a month in prison, tens of thousands of people  gathered outside the courthouse and marched to the building of the  National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. Since then, not  a single criminal or administrative case has been initiated against  the marchers. This, as the lawyer noted, is a clear indication of the  lack of necessity for such a significant number of police officers  outside the courthouse.  "These rallies were peaceful, and their  primary goal was to end political persecution. The day before, our  compatriots chanted slogans demanding justice and the restoration of  Samvel Karapetyan's right to freedom, which, from a legal standpoint,  is inviolable," the lawyer said.

He noted that the defense will present its stance at the court  hearing today. However, Vardevanyan noted that yesterday's arguments  by the prosecution cannot be called a position. "They didn't present  a position; they simply read what was written on paper, and that  writing has nothing to do with Samvel Karapetyan.  The investigators  practically didn't present any evidence they should have. According  to international requirements, any justification for restricting  freedom must be based on concrete evidence, which is lacking,"  Vardevanyan emphasized, once again pointing out the political  persecution of the businessman.  This persecution, the lawyer noted,  may have various motives, one of which is the ongoing political  processes in the country.