Protests in defense of Samvel Karapetyan are taking place in various districts of Yerevan

ArmInfo. Protests under the  slogan "Freedom for Samvel Karapetyan, freedom for Armenia" are  currently taking place in various districts of Yerevan. Protests are  taking place in front of the government buildings, the Prosecutor's  Office, and the Investigative Committee.

Protesters note in their speeches that Armenia's law enforcement  system now has the opportunity to prove that it is truly independent  from the executive branch. Arega Hovsepyan, a supporter of the "Our  Way" movement, emphasized that the same system can prove that it  operates without orders from a single individual. "The question  arises: why shouldn't Samvel Karapetyan be given the opportunity to  create 300,000 new jobs and build affordable housing for young  families? The answer is obvious: the current authorities are not  serving the interests of the Armenian people. Moreover, they are  hindering everything aimed at the development and prosperity of the  Armenian state. The leader of this small group, fearing for his  future, continues to imprison brave people who have raised their  voices in defense of the Armenian people," said Arega Hovsepyan.

During the protests, participants demanded that RA Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan end the "telephone justice." Outside the government  building, they noted that there should be no political prisoners in  the country. The protesters demanded a meeting with a government  representative to present him with a phone for later distribution to  Pashinyan.

Recall that the head of the Armenian government previously stated  that he could give Samvel Karapetyan a phone to communicate with  voters if he had any difficulties on this issue. It should also be  noted that today the Anti-Corruption Court is considering a motion to  extend the illegal detention of Samvel Karapetyan.  Since yesterday,  supporters of the businessman and members of the Strong Armenia party  have been holding a flash mob to gather outside the courthouse at 3/9  Tbilisi Highway starting at 3:30 PM on March 13.

The court previously upheld the January 17 ruling remanding  Karapetyan in custody for two months. The businessman was detained on  June 18, 2025, by law enforcement officers, and the court later  remanded him in custody on charges of calling for the overthrow of  the constitutional order in the country due to his support for the  Armenian Apostolic Church. He was later charged with money  laundering. Notably, Karapetyan's arrest was preceded by threatening  posts from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which lawyers have  assessed as an attempt to directly interfere with the investigation  and law enforcement.  Following Karapetyan's arrest, the authorities  effectively took over the management of Eclectic Networks of Armenia  from the Karapetyan family, appointing Romanos Petrosyan, a member of  the Civil Contract party, as its manager. ENA was also stripped of  its license.