Moscow court sanctions arrest of businessman Levon Hayrapetyan

Moscow’ Basmanny court sanctioned Thursday the arrest of wealthy businessman and public figure Levon Hayrapetyan who is suspected of embezzlement and money laundering, the correspondent of RIA Novosti reported from court.

The judge took into account the fact that Hayrapetyan is one of the heads of Sobesednik publishing house so he can use the mass media to put pressure on the investigation and discredit actions of the investigative group.

The court also said the businessman is thoroughly familiar with Russian judicial and law enforcement systems and “he may take advantage of it to avoid criminal responsibility”.

According to the court, Hayrapetyan owns property abroad and he has recently lived in Monaco. The court found no grounds for not taking him to a pre-trial prison for health reasons.

Hayrapetyan’s lawyers asked that he be placed under house arrest and released on bail.

Hayrapetyan who is considered one of the wealthiest businessmen of Armenian descent was detained at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

Investigators suspect Hayrapetyan of being connected with the sale of Bashneft by Ural Rakhimov to Sistema Company in April 2009. Earlier the court took decision to seize Bashneft’s holding of shares worth 300 million rubles as part of the case.