Samvel Karapetyan appears in court to supporters' cheers

Armenian businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Strong Armenia party, appeared at the Anti-Corruption Court on Friday to loud applause and chants of “Samvel, Samvel” from supporters gathered outside.

Karapetyan, currently under house arrest, was transported to court in a police vehicle. He declined to answer questions from reporters, citing restrictions on public statements. His lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, said Karapetyan would speak once the court lifted limitations.

The case, which opened on April 15, accuses Karapetyan of economic crimes. Vardevanyan denounced the charges as politically motivated, alleging inflated figures and fabricated acts, while stressing Karapetyan’s extensive charitable contributions to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Defense attorneys have petitioned for his release, arguing that house arrest prevents him from participating in party activities ahead of an upcoming congress.

Prosecutor Argam Dallakyan has requested an extension of house arrest by three months. Karapetyan was initially detained in June 2025 after publicly pledging support to the Armenian Apostolic Church. His detention was later converted to house arrest with bail in December.

In recent days, several members of Karapetyan’s party have been arrested on vote-buying allegations, which the party dismisses as politically motivated.