Armenian Court Lifts Speech Ban on Samvel Karapetyan, Keeps House Arrest

Overview

• Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court removed the December 30 prohibition on Karapetyan’s public speeches and calls, his lawyer said.
• The court declined the prosecution’s request to remand him in custody and maintained house arrest as the pretrial measure.
• A day earlier, the Appellate Court annulled a first-instance decision that had shifted him to house arrest, after which police halted his inpatient treatment and moved him to the SNB-run Yerevan-Kentron facility.
• Karapetyan remains charged and denies guilt, with his defense linking the case to his support for the Armenian Apostolic Church and tensions with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
• A coordinator for his ‘Our Way’ movement said he plans a major statement next week outlining his vision for Armenia’s economy and security.