L. Hayrapetyan’s lawyers to appeal court decision on arrest extension

The lawyers of businessman and public figure Levon Hayrapetyan, one of the wealthiest Armenian businessmen in the world, will appeal against the decision of Moscow’s Basmanny court to extend his detention until December 15, 2014, Hayrapetyan’s lawyer Igor Komarov said.

The lawyers will ask the court to replace the businessman’s imprisonment with house arrest. “Hayrapetyan’s health may considerably deteriorate if he is held in custody,” Komarov explained.

RIA Novosti reported on September 12 that Basmanny court extended Levon Hayrapetyan’s arrest. The court made such a decision despite his lawyers’ statement that L. Hayrapetyan suffers from several serious diseases and may not survive in prison conditions. A bail of 30 million rubles and guarantees of authoritative persons were offered.

It also became known at the court sitting yesterday that a second criminal case was opened against Levon Hayrapetyan.

Russia’s Federal Security Service detained Levon Hayrapetyan, 65, on July 15, 2014 after his plane from Nice landed at Domodedovo Airport of Moscow. The businessman is now held in custody. He denies the charges brought against him.