We Will Continue Our Struggle: Political Persecution with Evidence – International Lawyer

International lawyer and founder of Amsterdam & Partners LLP, Robert Amsterdam writes: “I speak about political persecutions in Armenia with facts. When the authorities target their political opponents, the law becomes a weapon and the courts become a club.

The arrest of Samvel Karapetyan and the case launched against him, followed by the processes related to the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA), are purely political punishments, as he had the courage to defend the Armenian Apostolic Church and national values.

The facts expose this. Just on the days when Karapetyan was detained, the government, in an urgent manner and with gross violations of the law, attempted to seize the management of the ENA. This is a direct attack on private property, driven solely by political revenge.

We initiated actions based on the international agreement on the Protection of Investments between Armenia and Cyprus. As a result, the urgent arbitration concluded by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce has made a ruling obliging the Armenian government to:

• Refrain from implementing the provisions of the new laws adopted against the ENA.
• Stop any further actions regarding the confiscation of the company.

This decision shows that Armenia’s actions raise serious doubts from the perspective of international law. The international judicial body halts the illegality of the Armenian authorities. Failing to comply with this binding decision by the Armenian government will not only have significant international repercussions but will also serve as further proof that for them, the rule of law is just empty words.

Armenia must respect international justice. We will continue our struggle for justice,” he wrote.