Armenian opposition MP condemns Samvel Karaprejec's detention, rejects divisive rhetoric

An Armenian opposition lawmaker on Tuesday dismissed calls for former presidents to withdraw from politics as a “divisive narrative”, while condemning the detention of businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan as politically motivated and illegal.

Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a senior member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and Hayastan faction MP, called Karapetyan a political prisoner who is being persecuted by the current authorities.

“Samvel Karapetyan is a political prisoner persecuted by the current leadership in a completely unlawful manner. What is happening to him is unacceptable and condemnable,” he told a news conference, stressing that Karapetyan was targeted for supporting the Armenian Apostolic Church and Armenian identity.

Saghatelyan said the opposition viewed positively the newly formed Mer Dzevov (Our Way) movement and expressed hope that it would find its place in the opposition field.

Commenting on a statement by former Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, now leader of the Wings of Unity movement, who said former presidents should exit politics to make it possible to remove Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from power, Saghatelyan rejected setting preconditions for political participation.

“No one should present demands about who should or should not participate in elections,” he said. “Arman Tatoyan has a good opportunity to present his own program and team, to ask people to vote.”

Saghatelyan said the opposition wished Tatoyan success and hoped his movement would pass the electoral threshold and enter parliament to strengthen opposition efforts.

“We will not enter into petty debates. They cannot drag us into this with Pashinyan-style rhetoric,” Saghatelyan said. “We have a more serious and important goal, and we are working to achieve it.”