Samvel Karapetyan: a group of 107 PACE members condemns his detention and “selective” prosecution
- Published
- Place
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
A political group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expressed “grave concern” on Saturday, 14 November, over the detention of Samvel Karapetyan. The European Conservatives, Patriots and Affiliates (ECPA) group, which has 107 members, says the Strong Armenia leader was arrested immediately after firmly rejecting the government’s draft new Constitution. It notes that three opposition party leaders are currently in detention in Armenia. It denounces recurring patterns of “selective” political prosecution. It calls on the authorities to uphold Council of Europe standards: the rule of law, fair trial rights and the right to debate the Constitution without coercion. The statement was posted on Samvel Karapetyan’s official Facebook page. His international lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, welcomed it shortly afterwards.
The text refers to PACE’s September 2026 report on Armenia. According to the group, recent events echo the concerns documented at the time about the selective use of criminal proceedings against political opponents.
It accuses the authorities of using prosecutions and preventive measures, such as pre-trial detention, to silence the opposition ahead of critical constitutional changes. The group pledges to monitor developments closely. It reaffirms its commitment to political pluralism.
In detention since 5 November
Samvel Karapetyan, a Russian-Armenian businessman, was detained and charged on 4 November in the case concerning Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), his company. The next day, Yerevan’s Anti-Corruption Court remanded him in custody for one month.
Investigators accuse him of organising a group that allegedly committed abuse of authority in the private sector between 2016 and 2024. They also allege large-scale embezzlement and money laundering, and put the damage at 64.5 billion drams. His defence calls the decision political.
On the evening of his arrest, eleven opposition forces met at his home. They announced a “national consolidation” against the draft Constitution.
Robert Amsterdam welcomes the statement
Samvel Karapetyan’s international lawyer reacted a few hours later. “The Armenian authorities must respect the right to a fair trial and ensure that discussions on the Constitution take place without pressure,” Robert Amsterdam wrote, according to NEWS.am.
He added: “The Constitution defines the limits of power. Those who oppose the government’s proposal must also be able to debate those limits freely.”
The draft new Constitution is due to be published this month, followed by a public discussion.
Analysis
The statement does not bind PACE: it is the position of a right-leaning political group, not of the Assembly. But it matters politically. It adds to criticism from Europe just as Yerevan seeks closer ties with the European Union and prepares a new Constitution. For the opposition, every outside voice becomes an argument in the constitutional battle. For the government, the risk is damage to the image of a democratic Armenia it promotes in Brussels. The courts, for their part, will have to show that the ENA case holds up on the merits.
Possible consequences
Samvel Karapetyan remains in pre-trial detention. His defence is challenging the measure, and the opposition continues to campaign against the draft Constitution.
