Samvel Karapetyan was treated unfairly and inhumanely — Karen Karapetyan

Former Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has issued a statement in support of philanthropist and businessman Samvel Karapetyan arrested in Yerevan.

“Samvel Karapetyan is a good friend of mine, so I do not exclude that what I will say about him and what is happening around him in the Republic of Armenia these days will be perceived as subjective or emotional. I will try to build my words as objectively and factually as possible.

1. Samvel Karapetyan has never been a part of any government, he has never held positions under any government, his financial assets and property were not acquired in Armenia.
2. Samvel Karapetyan launched his unprecedented and large-scale charitable projects in Armenia and Artsakh, without regard to which political forces were in power at the time or to his attitude towards that power. This is evident from a wide range of initiatives, including those from the past seven years.
3. All Armenian philanthropists, including Samvel Karapetyan, treat the Republic of Armenia and, I hope, will continue to treat the Republic of Armenia as a home, a hearth, from which they expect exceptionally fair treatment, which corresponds to their behavior towards the homeland.
4. In the Republic of Armenia, every person has the right to have and express his or her own opinion on a variety of issues. These opinions may differ or be disliked by others, regardless of who they are or what position they hold.
5. Samvel Karapetyan plays a special role in the Armenian Diaspora not only because of the charity or financial assistance he provides, but also because he has always tried to help our compatriots in his own way, including advising, reconciling, supporting and smoothing tensions when necessary.
6. Samvel Karapetyan has the right to have his own attitude towards our Church, to express his position and opinion on the latest developments around the Church, as well as to participate—within his capacity and in his own way—in addressing and resolving challenges facing the Church.
7. The interpretation of Samvel Karapetyan’s words, which formed the basis of the criminal proceedings against him, is at the very least debatable, considering the many possible approaches and meanings that could be attributed to those words (see point 5).
8. I believe he has been treated unfairly and, to put it simply, inhumanely.
9. As for the atmosphere created in Armenia (hatred, intolerance, rejection of dissent, etc.), there is work to be done by everyone, but especially by those in power, who have the greatest capacity to influence it.

I hope that the competent state bodies will make a logical and lawful decision, taking into account Samvel’s biography. I believe this controversial process can continue without resorting to legally and morally unacceptable arrest,” the former Armenian prime minister said in a statement.