Panorama.am

During a rally held in support of businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, a 72-year-old U.S. citizen, Rafayel Sargsyan, was detained by law enforcement in Armenia after allegedly making a death threat against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. According to his lawyer Armen Andrikyan, the arrest was followed by procedural violations.

Andrikyan, co-founder and partner at Fidelis Law Firm, said in a statement on Wednesday that the court denied the motion for non-custodial pretrial measures, specifically administrative supervision and a travel ban, against the man.

The lawyer highlighted what he called ongoing illegalities, particularly the unlawful seizure of Sargsyan’s personal belongings. Investigators have confiscated his bank cards and cash, which are unrelated to the charges and have not yet been returned. Andrikyan states it has effectively deprived his client of access to financial resources and basic necessities.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan has been notified of the incident.