American New York Post's Coverage of Samvel Karapetyan's Arrest

The richest man in Armenia is in prison, but his family insists that the charges are fabricated.

Samvel Karapetyan, who has a net worth of $4.4 billion, has been incarcerated for nearly three months following accusations of criticizing the country's Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan. This was reported by the American newspaper, New York Post.

“It all started with Pashinyan. He urged the country’s chief bishop to resign, accusing him of having a child under the oath of the priesthood. In response, Samvel Karapetyan said, ‘I have always stood by the Armenian Church and the Armenian people. If politicians fail, we will intervene in this campaign against the church in our own way,’” the article notes.

Karapetyan, who holds dual citizenship in Russia and Armenia and has significant business interests in both countries, was arrested on June 17 and charged with publicly calling for the illegal seizure of power based on his statement.

“There is no real judicial system in Armenia anymore when it comes to our Prime Minister or anyone who speaks against him,” his son, Sargis, told The Post, adding, “There is hardly any significant figure in the Armenian political arena that has not been imprisoned at least once by the current regime,” the newspaper reported.