Armenian culture development fund concerned over the arrest of Levon Hayrapetyan
YEREVAN, July 22. / ARKA /. The Armenian Culture Development Fund has
expressed serious concern today over the arrest of a wealthy Armenian
businessman, Levon Hayrapetyan, 65, a native of Nagorno-Karabakh known
for his business projects and charity in his homeland.
He was arrested by Russian Federal Security Service upon arriving in
Moscow on July 15 and is accused of some illegal dealings connected
with a Russian oil company, Bashneft.
In a statement distributed to mass media, the president of the
Armenian Culture Development Fund, Metso Igityan, says Armenians hope
that the Russian law enforcement and judicial authorities will
consider all available evidence and clear Levon Hayrapetyan of the
alleged wrongdoing.
"The Fund has no doubt that Hayrapetyan's large-scale public activity
and numerous charity projects were aimed at bringing prosperity to
Russia, Armenia and his homeland - Nagorno-Karabakh, where he built
roads, schools and kindergartens. Hayrapetyan did much for the
development and strengthening of Russian-Armenian relations, for
support of prominent figures of the two countries. He is known as one
of the strongest lobbyists for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottoman Empire,' the statement says.
The statement says also that Hayrapetyan is seriously ill having
diabetes and had recently a stroke and placing him behind bars would
kill him.
'Levon Hayrapetyan is certainly a talented man. Today he is in dire
need of assistance. He is charged with an economic crime and in
accordance with Russian law he may be put under house arrest,' the
statement says.
"The Armenian Culture Development Fund requests that Russian law
enforcement agencies and judicial authorities take into account the
health condition of Hayrapetyan and allow him to be confined to his
house pending investigation or trial."
According to some media reports, Levon Hayrapetyan is expected to be
officially charged on July 24. Last Thursday, a Moscow court allowed
his two-month imprisonment while investigators conduct a probe into
his alleged criminal connections and involvement in some illegal
financial dealings. -0-
- See more at: http://arka.am/en/news/society/armenian_culture_development_fund_concerned_over_t he_arrest_of_levon_hayrapetyan/#sthash.T6ScbfSB.dpuf
YEREVAN, July 22. / ARKA /. The Armenian Culture Development Fund has
expressed serious concern today over the arrest of a wealthy Armenian
businessman, Levon Hayrapetyan, 65, a native of Nagorno-Karabakh known
for his business projects and charity in his homeland.
He was arrested by Russian Federal Security Service upon arriving in
Moscow on July 15 and is accused of some illegal dealings connected
with a Russian oil company, Bashneft.
In a statement distributed to mass media, the president of the
Armenian Culture Development Fund, Metso Igityan, says Armenians hope
that the Russian law enforcement and judicial authorities will
consider all available evidence and clear Levon Hayrapetyan of the
alleged wrongdoing.
"The Fund has no doubt that Hayrapetyan's large-scale public activity
and numerous charity projects were aimed at bringing prosperity to
Russia, Armenia and his homeland - Nagorno-Karabakh, where he built
roads, schools and kindergartens. Hayrapetyan did much for the
development and strengthening of Russian-Armenian relations, for
support of prominent figures of the two countries. He is known as one
of the strongest lobbyists for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottoman Empire,' the statement says.
The statement says also that Hayrapetyan is seriously ill having
diabetes and had recently a stroke and placing him behind bars would
kill him.
'Levon Hayrapetyan is certainly a talented man. Today he is in dire
need of assistance. He is charged with an economic crime and in
accordance with Russian law he may be put under house arrest,' the
statement says.
"The Armenian Culture Development Fund requests that Russian law
enforcement agencies and judicial authorities take into account the
health condition of Hayrapetyan and allow him to be confined to his
house pending investigation or trial."
According to some media reports, Levon Hayrapetyan is expected to be
officially charged on July 24. Last Thursday, a Moscow court allowed
his two-month imprisonment while investigators conduct a probe into
his alleged criminal connections and involvement in some illegal
financial dealings. -0-
- See more at: http://arka.am/en/news/society/armenian_culture_development_fund_concerned_over_t he_arrest_of_levon_hayrapetyan/#sthash.T6ScbfSB.dpuf