Rally in support of Samvel Karapetyan held outside Yerevan court

A large crowd gathered outside the Avan and Nor Nork District Court in Yerevan on Wednesday in support of prominent businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan. Heavy police presence was reported at the scene.

Karapetyan has been charged with public calls for the seizure of power under Article 422.2 of Armenia’s Criminal Code. If convicted, he faces a range of penalties, including a fine, community service or imprisonment from two to five years.

Karapetyan was arrested late last night following a raid at his villa in Yerevan. His arrest came shortly after he publicly expressed strong support for the Armenian Apostolic Church amid attacks from the Armenian leadership. Karapetyan warned that if politicians failed to resolve the situation, “we will intervene in the campaign against the church in our own way".