Preliminary investigation in Armenian magnate’s case completed

PanARMENIAN.Net - Preliminary investigation in the case of Russian-Armenian businessman-philanthropist Levon Hayrapetyan accused of embezzling $700,000 from ex-Senator Igor Izmestyev currently serving a life term, is completed, Hayrapetyan's lawyer told RIA Novosti.

As Ruben Markaryan noted, the investigation obtained the testimony of the convicted Senator's mother: the defense will learn about additional evidence only upon familiarizing themselves with the criminal case.

"This case is unique in the fact that for the first time in the history, criminal prosecution of a well-known philanthropist is held in such a rapid manner to protect the interests of person convicted of series of murders," the lawyer stressed.

Today (May 25), the Moscow City Court will verify the legality of Hayrapetyan's house arrest.

At the investigator's request, the term of Hayrapetyan's house arrest was set till July 28, with the layers appealing against the ruling.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia arrested Hayrapetyan, one of the wealthiest representatives of the Armenian Diaspora in the world in July 2014.

The arrest took place as part of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Russian Investigatory Committee into the activities of one of the local criminal groups.

Hayrapetyan was detained by FSB workers at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow after he arrived in the Russian capital from Monaco.

The businessman was convoyed to the Investigatory Committee for questioning and it was there that he was officially notified about his arrest.

Hayrapetyan is reportedly suspected of connections to the criminal group led by Sergey Finagin, one of Russia’s notorious crime figures.

Russian law enforcers also imposed a lien on his shares of $900,000 in the oil company Bashneft. Hayrapetyan refuses to plead guilty in money laundering case in which he is allegedly involved.

A testimony by Igor Izmestev, a former senator now serving a life sentence, is said to have led to Hayrapetyan’s arrest.

Hayrapetyan is known to have invested millions of dollars into developing Nagorno Karabakh’s infrastructure and renovating the area’s historical-cultural monuments. His charity included a mass wedding for hundreds of Karabakh couples in 2008 and sponsorship of the construction of a military college in Martakert.