The case against Samvel Karapetyan will not only be taken to international courts, but also brought to the attention of everyone who has influence over the Armenian government so that they free the political prisoners. World-renowned lawyer and international human rights activist Robert Amsterdam, a member of the international legal team of Russian Armenian entrepreneur and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan who is currently jailed in Armenia’s capital Yerevan, told this to a press conference Tuesday.

The Azerbaijani government is targeting two Armenian billionaires — one is Ruben Vardanyan, the other is Samvel Karapetyan. Everyone should ask themselves why Samvel Karapetyan is sitting in prison in Armenia, a man who is absolutely innocent, said Amsterdam, and recalled that Karapetyan was arrested when he was in Armenia to attend the memorial service for the fortieth day of his father’s passing.

It was not a political action at all. From the context of his words, it’s clear that Karapetyan did not even think of insinuating at the overthrow of the Armenian government, added Amsterdam, and noted that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his chief of staff allow themselves to make insulting statements.

According to the international lawyer, all of this stems from the fears of a prime minister who feels very insecure, shows disrespect toward both the Armenian public and the Armenian Apostolic Church, and regularly delivers Facebook addresses filled with offensive remarks.

Karapetyan was not even a witness in the criminal case, and suddenly, the prime minister — who feels extremely insecure and clearly frightened by domestic circumstances — attacks a man who is participating in a religious ceremony in memory of his father, and this brutal regime imprisons him, said Amsterdam.

The lawyer stated that Armenia is engaged in holding political prisoners, and added that they will petition to the EU with a request to condemn Armenia for keeping political prisoners.

The European Convention on Human Rights’ Article 9 relating to freedom of religion, Article 10 to the right to expression, and Article 18 to the political basis, as well as the application of disproportionate punishment, have been violated, the lawyer noted.