Businessman, philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan's defense group issued a statement, which we present below.
"Samvel Karapetyan's Defense Council welcomes the statements made by European Parliament Member Nacho Sanchez Amori at the Yerevan session of the Political, Human Rights and Democracy Committee during the 12th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Euronest Parliament on October 28 of this year, which emphasize the need to protect democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms and violations in Armenia.
Freedom of speech, the right to peaceful assembly and political pluralism are the pillars of democracy and cannot be curtailed through criminal prosecutions, abuse of power or selective justice.
We draw the attention of our European partners to the continuous illegal detention of the national philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, who has been in illegal prison for more than 130 days, on the absurd charge of a medium crime, without a fair trial and ensuring transparent legal guarantees.
The same concern also applies to the illegal arrest and subsequent detention of Ruben Mkhitaryan, a representative of the "Our way" movement, attorney in Gyumri, which testify to the dangerous trend of criminal prosecutions caused by obvious political motives.
The prolonged and unjustified detentions of three Bishops of public authority who have never been maligned before are also of a shocking nature.
Such actions contradict the obligations of the Republic of Armenia, which are of a universal international nature, particularly in the areas of the right to a fair trial (Article 6 of the ECHR), freedom and personal integrity (Article 5 of the ECHR), as well as freedom of expression and assembly (Articles 10 and 11 of the ECHR).
Real European integration begins not in Brussels, but right here in Armenia, where the freedom of speech, dignity and protection of rights of every citizen must be ensured."
