Armenian court weighs Karapetyan's detention as defense seeks bail increase

An Armenian court on Friday reviewed the measure of restraint imposed on businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan as his defense team sought to ease his house arrest and proposed increasing his already record-setting bail.

The hearing was held at the Anti-Corruption Court under judge Vahe Dolmazyan. Karapetyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Strong Armenia party, is currently under house arrest. His lawyers have petitioned the court to lift the restriction, arguing that it prevents him from participating in key political activities, including the formation of the party’s electoral list ahead of an upcoming congress.

The court agreed to consider the motion on a priority basis.

According to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, attorney Aram Vardevanyan told the court that Karapetyan has demonstrated consistent compliance with all legal requirements and should not remain under restrictive measures. “Why should a person who has exhibited exclusively proper conduct remain deprived of liberty?” Vardevanyan said.

He also challenged the prosecution’s interpretation of a brief interview in which Karapetyan referred to acting “in our own way”, arguing that the statement does not constitute a threat. Vardevanyan added that Karapetyan’s remarks about defending the Armenian Apostolic Church had been misconstrued.

The defense emphasized that the court previously set bail at 4 billion drams (about $10 million), describing it as the largest in Armenia’s history. Vardevanyan noted that Karapetyan has committed no violations in the 10 months since the measure was imposed.

In a further step, the defense proposed increasing the bail by an additional 400 million drams in an effort to secure relief from house arrest.

Vardevanyan also said that during the pretrial stage, Dolmazyan had found no reasonable suspicion to support the charges, though the same judge later ordered Karapetyan’s house arrest.

Addressing the court, Karapetyan stated that legal irregularities were being used against him and his political movement. “The abuses within the legal system are directed at me and our team to prevent the people from achieving a strong Armenia,” he said, adding that change would come “very soon”.

The court has not yet issued a ruling.