Armenia’s Corruption Prevention Commission has launched administrative proceedings against Samvel Karapetyan, chairman of the Strong Armenia party, for failing to submit a declaration of assets and income. The information was provided by the Commission, according to Factor.am .
According to the report, the process began in April after the Commission received information from the party regarding its newly elected leadership following a party congress. The Commission subsequently notified members of the party’s council about their obligation to file declarations—first by email, then in paper form, and later through the azdarar.am platform.
All members of the party council complied with the requirement except Samvel Karapetyan.
Under the Commission’s established practice, the proceedings may still be terminated if Karapetyan submits the required declaration during the review process. In such cases, the violation is considered minor and only an oral warning is issued.
If the declaration is not submitted, a first-time administrative fine of 200,000 drams may be imposed. If the declaration is still not filed within 30 days after the application of the penalty prescribed by law, the issue of criminal liability may also arise.
Earlier, the Commission had stated that the failure to submit the declaration was linked to the inability to use the electronic declaration system while Karapetyan was under house arrest and subject to restrictions on correspondence. However, those restrictions imposed by the court have since been lifted.
Legal proceedings involving Samvel Karapetyan began in June of last year after he stated that he was prepared to defend the Armenian Apostolic Church “in his own way.” Criminal proceedings were subsequently initiated against the businessman.
He spent around seven months in the Yerevan-Kentron penitentiary institution and is currently under house arrest. Karapetyan has been charged not only with publicly calling for the seizure of power but also under an article related to money laundering.
