Strong Armenia party rallies for Karapetyan's release, vows end to selective justice

The opposition Strong Armenia party staged a protest outside the Armenian Investigative Committee on Friday, demanding the release of detained businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan and pledging to end selective justice.

Party member Tigran Badoyan stressed that under Karapetyan’s leadership “there will be no selective justice” and promised a stronger judiciary. He praised Karapetyan’s decades of investments and charitable work, saying Armenians from the diaspora were joining calls for his release.

The group said it would gather later at the Anti-Corruption Court to show solidarity with Karapetyan, who is unlawfully held under house arrest.

Another party member, Harutyun Mnatsakanyan, said Armenia’s future depended on justice and vowed that after the June 7 parliamentary elections “there will be no political prisoners" in the country.

“Freedom to Samvel Karapetyan and all political prisoners. I hope Armenia as a country with political prisoners will remain only in history," he added.