There is no reason to keep Levon Hayrapetyan under custody.

The Russian-Armenian businessman and benefactor’s main legal defender Henri Reznik—who is also chairman of the presidium of Moscow City Bar Association—stated the aforesaid during the court hearing on the appeal of Hayrapetyan’s detention sentence, the Russian Kommersant daily reported.

In Reznik’s words, one of the main arguments in favor of releasing Hayrapetyan is the fact that the motion for his detention hearing has no proof that the defendant is involved in the appropriation of the shares of the Bashneft Russian oil company.

As per the attorney, it is simply noted that the shares are sold with Hayrapetyan’s mediation.

Hayrapetyan’s other public defenders, on the other hand, reminded the court that their client suffers from cardiovascular and oncological illnesses, and this makes it impossible for him remain in prison.

The Moscow Municipal Court on Friday ruled in favor of the Basman Court ruling on keeping the businessman under custody until September 15.

Levon Hayrapetyan, 65, was detained in a Moscow airport on July 15 and subsequently arrested. On July 24, the Russian Federation Investigation Committee brought two criminal charges against him: embezzlement or misuse, and money laundering. To note, even though Hayrapetyan has health problems, he is still kept in prison.