YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. Billionaire real estate developer Samvel Karapetyan has refused to testify to investigators in a case concerning an alleged incident between his nephew and an entrepreneur identified as Vahe Parazyan.

Karapetyan received a summons for questioning from the Investigations Committee of Armenia, but refused to come in, noting that “he is in Russia and cannot come, and in addition, he would like to exercise his Constitutional right and refuse from testifying,” Investigations Committee spokesperson Naira Harutyunyan told ARMENPRESS.

Earlier the Investigations Committee said it has pressed extortion charges against Narek Karapetyan, the 28 year old nephew of the Russia-based Armenian tycoon.

According to authorities, 30 year old businessman Vahe Parazyan was admitted to a hospital on July 4 with multiple bodily injuries. He told police that he was physically attacked by Narek Karapetyan and his entourage.

Parazyan told the news media that he was attacked by Narek Karapetyan because he refused to pay 10,000,000 Euros to him. Narek Karapetyan and another man are charged with extortion and a signature bond is enforced as the measure of restraint.

Narek Karapetyan has dismissed these allegations and denies any wrongdoing.

It is known that the prosecution tasked the investigative body to summon Samvel Karapetyan for questioning.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan