Moscow prosecutor set to demand prison term for Armenian businessmanApril 12, 2016 - 15:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky District Court will hear the case of Armenian businessman Levon Hayrapetyan, indicted for embezzling $700,000. During the hearing, the prosecutor is expected to make a closing argument, also set to demand a certain prison term for the defendant, Tert.am reports. According to sources, Hayrapetyan and the defense counsel will both be granted the right to speak to the court. 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. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |