Court changes Samvel Karapetian’s detention from jail to house arrest

(Horizon Weekly) – A Yerevan court on Tuesday decided to change the pre-trial detention of businessman Samvel Karapetian to house arrest, a move that came unexpectedly after earlier rulings had kept him in custody.

Karapetian, a Russian Armenian billionaire, had been held since June following his arrest in Yerevan. The Office of the Prosecutor General announced that it will appeal the decision. Just over a month earlier, the same court had extended his detention by two months, a ruling that was upheld by an appeals court last week.

Karapetian’s lawyer, Aram Vartevanian, said his client will post bail before being transferred to house arrest, without disclosing the amount set by the court. Karapetian was released from a central Yerevan prison later in the evening.

He was arrested shortly after publicly criticizing Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian over his stance toward the Armenian Apostolic Church and declaring his intention to oppose the current authorities politically. Law enforcement bodies have accused Karapetian of calling for the violent overthrow of the government, along with allegations of tax evasion, fraud and money laundering, which he has denied.

In recent months, Karapetian has announced the formation of a new political movement, Mer Dzevov, which is expected to participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2026. From detention, he stated that the movement aims to challenge Armenia’s current ruling circle.

Born in Armenia and based largely in Russia since the early 1990s, Karapetian is known for extensive charitable activities in Armenia and Artsakh, as well as for his financial support of the Armenian Church. His change of detention status comes amid continued political debate both domestically and internationally surrounding his case.