Armenia detains former President Robert Kocharyan
Robert Kocharyan, who served as Armenia’s second president from 1998 to 2008, and his eldest son, Sedrak Kocharyan, have been detained by Armenian law enforcement officials. The detentions followed a series of searches of properties linked to the Kocharyan family’s business interests, Euronews reported.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into the 71-year-old politician, who is suspected of abuse of power, bribery and large-scale money laundering.
In addition to Kocharyan and his son, 10 other people are suspected of involvement in the case. Four of them have also been detained. Meanwhile, the former president was admitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated following his detention.
According to Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee, some state assets may have been illegally sold to private companies at below-market prices during Kocharyan’s presidency between 1998 and 2008.
Another former Armenian president, Serzh Sargsyan, has also been charged in the same case. From 2007 to 2008, he served as prime minister under Kocharyan before becoming president, a position he held until 2018. Sargsyan is suspected of abuse of power and is expected to give a statement to the Anti-Corruption Committee in Yerevan.
Conflict with Pashinyan
The searches took place less than 24 hours after an altercation in parliament between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the former president’s youngest son, Levon Kocharyan.
Kocharyan accused the head of government of pressuring the courts and law enforcement agencies to initiate cases against certain individuals.
In response, Pashinyan questioned the origins of the Kocharyan family’s wealth. He said that assets acquired using public funds should be returned to the state.
Robert Kocharyan has previously faced criminal proceedings. In 2019, the former president was accused of the unlawful use of force against protesters following the 2008 presidential election. At least 10 people were killed during the clashes. However, the charges were later dropped, and the case was closed in 2021.
«A signal to the Kremlin»
According to Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan, allegations that Kocharyan was involved in corruption during his presidency have circulated for years.
The new criminal case also reflects the standoff between the pro-Russian opposition and Pashinyan’s government, which is pursuing closer ties with the EU.
«Of course, this is a signal to the Kremlin. Kocharyan is effectively positioning himself as an intermediary for Russian interests, and we are seeing a clear trend: The authorities have begun to intensify their fight against pro-Russian political forces, using every means at their disposal,» Iskandaryan said.
