Samvel Karapetyan criticizes probe into Tsarukyan, questions seizure of taxidermied animals

Armenian businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, the prime ministerial candidate of the Strong Armenia party in the June 7 parliamentary elections, on Tuesday criticized the authorities over a criminal investigation into opposition leader Gagik Tsarukyan, calling the case politically motivated and warning that it is damaging Armenia's investment climate.

Speaking to reporters outside a courthouse, Karapetyan said the government's actions were deterring both domestic and foreign investors.

"There have been virtually no major investments in Armenia in recent years, so perhaps the authorities don't see the risk," he said. "I do. Every move they make drives away both local and international investors. Tsarukyan was one of the country's largest investors."

Karapetyan also criticized investigators for confiscating taxidermied animals from Tsarukyan's residence.

"They even seized the man's taxidermy specimens collection. What are they going to do with it? The lions are one thing, but the taxidermied animals? I don't understand why they were taken," he said.

His comments followed an announcement on Monday by Armenia's Investigative Committee that the authorities had seized 190 stuffed animals and birds, along with three lions and one tiger, from a residence owned by Tsarukyan as part of a criminal investigation into alleged illegal hunting.

The committee said the taxidermied specimens and the live animals had been designated as evidence. The lions and tiger were transferred to a zoo, while officials said additional animals kept at the property would be removed and placed in custodial care in the coming days.

According to investigators, the alleged illegal hunting caused approximately 30 million drams in environmental damage. The investigation is underway.