‘Haykakan Zhamanak’ newspaper predetermined court’s decision – lawyer on Karapetyan’s case

Aram Vardevanyan, the lawyer of philanthropist and businessman Samvel Karapetyan, told journalists outside the Anti-Corruption Court that the pro-government newspaper “Haykakan Zhamanak” had predetermined the court’s decision.

“What is the point of everything that happens in the courts—the arguments we make, the legal positions we present—if Haykakan Zhamanak can simply predetermine the entire outcome a day before the decision is made?” the lawyer asked.

According to him, while the court was reviewing the investigative body’s motion to extend the businessman’s detention, the newspaper owned by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s family published an article stating that his detention would be extended. Vardevanyan noted that as of 11:00 p.m. on Monday, the article remained unchanged.

“During the court session, my colleagues and I raised the issue of that article. The judge expressed indignation, saying, ‘Who do you take me for? How can I be guided by media predictions?’ Yet he ultimately followed the prediction exactly. Just as on June 17, 2025, the highest-ranking official of the Republic of Armenia directly predetermined the actions of law enforcement, in this case Haykakan Zhamanak predetermined the judicial process and the court’s decision. I have never seen anything like this in the Republic of Armenia,” Vardevanyan added.

It should be noted that on November 18, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court extended Samvel Karapetyan’s detention for another two months.