Samvel Karapetyan has no connection to proceedings related to actions at the Artsakh representation, lawyer says

Samvel Karapetyan has no connection whatsoever to the criminal proceedings initiated in relation to the events that took place at the Artsakh representation, attorney Aram Vardevanyan stated at a press conference.

“If there were no restrictions related to pre-trial secrecy, we would publish the relevant documents today. We have a document issued by a competent private body confirming that Samvel Karapetyan has no involvement. There are witness testimonies confirming the same. The investigative bodies and the courts are fully aware of this – at least four judicial acts have affirmed that there is no connection,” he said.

The lawyer said it is regrettable that a group of 53 investigators is still dealing with procedural issues instead of completing them, or that courts have not yet addressed the alleged violations and dismissed the case.

Vardevanyan emphasized that Karapetyan’s only connection with Artsakh is the fact that he is wanted by the Azerbaijani authorities.

“I do not rule out that they may have discovered more than $50 million in charitable contributions in the Artsakh representation, which is why the Azerbaijani authorities are searching for him. It would be better if the investigators went to Stepanakert and conducted investigative actions there,” he said, adding that he would not be surprised if, in the near future, documents were received through mutual legal assistance questioning why Karapetyan engaged in charitable activities in Artsakh.