BREAKING: Urgent clashes have erupted outside a courthouse in Yerevan, Armenia, as supporters demand the release of jailed billionaire and government critic Samvel Karapetyan. Just moments ago, three protesters were detained by police amidst escalating tensions during a hearing regarding Karapetyan’s pre-trial detention.
Footage from the scene shows chaotic scuffles between demonstrators and law enforcement as the court deliberates whether to extend Karapetyan’s detention, originally initiated last June 2023 on serious charges including inciting a coup and money laundering. Protesters are rallying against what they describe as a politically motivated arrest aimed at silencing dissent against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Karapetyan, who also holds Russian citizenship, has been an outspoken critic of Pashinyan’s administration, particularly condemning the government’s actions against the Armenian Apostolic Church. Tensions between Pashinyan and the church leadership have intensified since a controversial decision in 2020 when the church’s top cleric, Catholicos Garegin II, publicly called for Pashinyan’s resignation after Armenia ceded territory to Azerbaijan. This sparked widespread protests, with thousands accusing the prime minister of betraying national interests.
As the situation unfolds, authorities have cracked down on several church leaders, with notable arrests including Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, sentenced to two years in prison in October 2023 for similar charges of inciting a coup. Critics of Pashinyan argue that he is using law enforcement to suppress opposition and consolidate his power as his approval ratings continue to plummet.
In a related incident, Vardan Ghukasyan, the mayor of Gyumri and another vocal critic of Pashinyan, was also placed in pre-trial detention last October on bribery charges, further exacerbating fears about the state of democracy in Armenia.
The Kremlin is closely monitoring the unrest, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeling the political turmoil as an “internal matter” while acknowledging the seriousness of the situation.
As protests continue to unfold, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on the courthouse in Yerevan. The future of Samvel Karapetyan and the stability of Pashinyan’s government hang in the balance. What happens next could change the political landscape of Armenia significantly. Stay tuned for live updates as this story develops.
