Armenian authorities have divided the country: Samvel Karapetyan has made a new statement

Arrested businessman Samvel Karapetyan, owner of the Tashir Group of Companies, has accused the Armenian authorities of dividing society and creating a repressive system that undermines the foundations of internal security. This is stated in his statement, conveyed through his lawyers.

According to Karapetyan, the current leadership has deliberately divided the country into “black” and “white” categories.

"Heroes, generals, scientists — representatives of the intellectual and professional elite — were classified as ‘black’. Some were portrayed as corrupt, others as useless to society," he said.

Karapetyan added that many entrepreneurs also found themselves in this category, with hundreds of criminal cases brought against them, which, in his opinion, are illegal.

“The repressive apparatus has become the main instrument of pressure, destroying internal stability. People who care deeply about their country, create jobs, and bring real benefits have become political prisoners and ended up behind bars,” the statement said.

Karapetyan emphasized that a number of respected people, along with their families, have been persecuted and forced to leave Armenia or not return to their homeland.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that the situation is changing.

“The ‘black’ are beginning to turn ‘white’, and those who today consider themselves ‘white’ will soon remain only a small group. Although even this situation causes me pain, because it was precisely with division that the most difficult period of our history began,” the businessman added.

As a reminder, Samvel Karapetyan was arrested on June 18 for two months on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power. The criminal case was initiated after he publicly spoke out in defense of the Armenian Apostolic Church the day before, against the backdrop of offensive statements by the authorities against the highest hierarchs.

Following the businessman's statement in support of the AAC, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan posted harsh comments on social media. The prime minister threatened to “rein in dissolute clergy” and their “dissolute benefactors.” Shortly thereafter, officers from the Armenian Interior Ministry's criminal police conducted a search of Karapetyan's home and detained him a few hours later.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow is closely monitoring the situation surrounding Karapetyan, given that he has Russian citizenship. The Catholicos of Echmiadzin himself also called on the authorities to stop persecuting the businessman.

In the days that followed, many prominent Armenians around the world, as well as foreign politicians, public figures, and business leaders, spoke out in support of Karapetyan.

Samvel Karapetyan implemented large-scale projects in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Kindergartens, schools, and hospitals were built with his funds.

Reprinted from https://am.sputniknews.ru/