The lawyer called Karapetyan's arrest an attempt to interfere with his election campaign.

The extension of the arrest of the leader of the Strong Armenia party, businessman Samvel Karapetyan, is an attempt to interfere with his election campaign. Armen Feroyan, the businessman's lawyer, told Izvestia about this on Friday, April 17.

"This was done solely for one reason — so that Samvel Karapetyan would not be able to participate in the electoral process on equal terms... If Samvel Karapetyan had participated in the campaign on equal terms, his chances of winning would have been 10-20 times higher," he said.

The human rights defender clarified that his client was allowed to communicate with media representatives, as well as with party candidates. At the same time, contacts, as he explained, can only be carried out under house arrest. Karapetyan himself cannot travel to villages and towns, as well as hold related events campaigning for his candidacy.

"Illegal criminal prosecution has been carried out against Samvel Karapetyan for a long time, as a result of political processes and political persecution," Feroyan added.

Such a conclusion, as he stressed, can be made by all unbiased persons who are potentially present at the relevant meetings. The interlocutor of Izvestia clarified that there are false facts in the case in question. In his opinion, it is an imitation of a crime allegedly committed by an entrepreneur, which in fact did not happen.

The cult of duplicity: what is known about the detention of businessman Karapetyan in Armenia

Prime Minister Pashinyan called the businessman a scoundrel and wanted to nationalize his assets.

The extension of Karapetyan's house arrest for three months became known on the same day. The relevant decision was made by representatives of the Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia. The businessman is currently being held in his mansion, where he returned from the Yerevan detention center on January 18.

On April 17, Izvestia published footage of a march organized by Karapetyan's supporters. People came to the building of the anti-corruption court in Yerevan, which subsequently escalated. In this regard, the police on duty there began to disperse the crowd.