Karapetyan`s defense files motion to change restraint measure 

ArmInfo.  At tomorrow's court hearing, the defense of Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian businessman, and the leader and founder of the Strong Armenia party, will prioritize petitioning for a change in his pretrial detention  measure. Aram Vardevanyan, one of Karapetyan's lawyers, announced  this in a conversation with journalists outside the Anti-Corruption  Court in Yerevan on April 14.

According to Vardevanyan, they have already submitted a corresponding  petition to the court today. "Every hour is decisive in the context  of the country's upcoming parliamentary elections. The Strong Armenia  party convened a congress on April 21, and it is crucial that Samvel  Karapetyan be able to fully participate in political processes before  this congress, where election-related issues will be discussed, as  the party chairman's participation in such events is very important,"  Vardevanyan clarified. He expressed hope that their petition will be  granted and that his client's clearly violated rights will be  rectified.

Recall, the businessman was arrested in June 2025 following his  statements in defense of the Armenian Church. Last December, Samvel  Karapetyan's pretrial detention was changed to house arrest.

Earlier, the RA Investigative Committee announced the completion of  the criminal investigation into the businessman's alleged tax  evasion, money laundering, and large-scale embezzlement. He is also  accused of inciting a coup d'etat.