Overview
- The General Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Committee asked the appellate court to replace Karapetyan’s house arrest with pre-trial detention, appealing the December 30 ruling.
- Karapetyan remains confined at home under extensive restrictions while his legal team files further appeals seeking his release.
- Defense lawyer Aram Vardevanyan says investigators offered no justification for renewed custody and argues the bid is politically driven over Karapetyan’s support for the church.
- Vardevanyan also says authorities denied Karapetyan’s request to visit his father’s grave on January 7, the day of remembrance.
- In a separate case, the Appellate Criminal Court left Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan in custody, and investigators have opened a public prosecution under an article on illegal narcotics distribution by a group.