«Levon Hayrapetyan’s arrest related to financing of Karabakh army»

Businessman Levon Hayrapetyan suffers from diabetes and cardiovascular disease, he had a heart attack and stroke so he should not be kept in custody, Professor Henri Akunts of Armenia Medical Center told journalists today.

In his words, Levon Hayrapetyan should be under doctor’s constant supervision.

Another participant of the press conference, Artsakh Hero Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan said L. Hayrapeyian’s arrest was an Azerbaijani order as the businessman financed the Karabakh army. Besides, according to Tadevosyan, Azerbaijan believes that L. Hayrapetyan is going to create his own army.

As was reported earlier, the defense appealed against the arrest of well-known Armenian businessman Levon Hayrapetyuan suspected of embezzlement and money laundering in Russia, Hayrapetyan’s 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.