Authorities move to remove Samvel Karapetyan's support banners from shopping center

Yerevan Municipality employees, accompanied by police, have entered the premises of the Tashir Trade center to dismantle banners featuring detained businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan’s photo and the slogan “Freedom to Samvel Karapetyan”.

According to the center’s legal representative, Vardan Aloyan, the action targets materials posted on private property and constitutes an unlawful intrusion. He emphasized that the posters are part of an awareness campaign, not advertisements, and said the municipality is citing a 2009 city council decision, which he argues does not apply in this case. He announced plans to legally challenge the move.

Aloyan also criticized police for inconsistent behavior, stating that while they claim the property boundaries are unclear, they simultaneously requested barricades be removed to allow access for municipal workers.