21/07/2014 13:20
Levon Hayrapetyan’s defense appeals against his arrest
The defense has appealed against the arrest of well-known Armenian businessman Levon Hayrapetyuan suspected of embezzlement and money laundering in Russia, Hayrapetyan’s lawyer lawyer Ruben Markaryan told ITAR-TASS.
“We have asked Moscow city court to revoke Basmanny court’s decision about Hayrapetyan’s arrest as illegal and unfounded and choose a measure of restraint not related to imprisonment,” Markaryan said.
The investigators are expected to officially bring charges against Hayrapetyan on July 24.
Basmanny court of Moscow arrested Hayrapetyan on July 15 based on the investigators’ petition. Besides, Bashneft Company’s shares in excess of 300 million rubles were seized as part of the criminal case.
Levon Hayrapetyan denies all charges against him.
The 65-year-old businessman was detained on July 15 at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport where he arrived from Nice. Evidence given by Igor Izmestyev, an ex-senator from Bashkiria currently serving a life term for particularly grave crimes, was a ground for Hayrapetyan’s detention.