'They failed to break us': Samvel Karapetyan issues new message from detention

Imprisoned businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan has issued a new message from his detention facility. Below is the full statement shared by his nephew, Narek Karapetyan, on Monday.

“What the Current Authorities Have Failed to Achieve

The current leadership has failed to suppress the will of the Armenian people.

They have failed to break the spirit of young Armenian people. Despite the trauma of war, political repression, hardships and insecurity, they remain resilient, talented and deeply committed to the future of the country.

They have failed to suppress free speech and silence the media. The cycle of disinformation and manipulation is beginning to collapse. Thanks to the perseverance of dedicated journalists, the truth is reaching the public.

They have failed to crush the spirit of our compatriots imprisoned in Baku. These individuals, who have fought for our people for decades, command our deepest respect. Though behind bars and facing mortal danger, they continue to uphold their dignity – and ours – with the strength and honor befitting a true Armenian man.

They have failed to erode our faith in the Armenian Apostolic Church. The more they target the clergy, the more Armenians turn to them. The more they attack the church, the more united the people become around the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

Our fundamentally new political force will be grounded in the nation’s highest values, powered by those who carry the unshakable will of the people, particularly the youth.

We are opening a new long-awaited chapter in Armenia's history in our own way.”