Yerevan – Armenia’s Anti‑Corruption Committee announced Tuesday that former President Robert Kocharyan, 71, and his eldest son Sedrak were detained after raids on businesses linked to the family. The investigation alleges abuse of authority, bribery and large‑scale money laundering during Kocharyan’s tenure as president from 1998 to 2008.
Four additional individuals were taken into custody as part of the probe. The raids occurred less than 24 hours after a heated exchange in parliament between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kocharyan’s younger son, Levon, highlighting the deepening political rift.
Allegations of Illicit Asset Sales
Authorities say state assets were sold to private companies at prices below market value while Kocharyan was in office. The case also implicates former President Serzh Sargsyan, who was summoned to the Anti‑Corruption Committee headquarters.
Political Reactions
Bagrat Mikoyan, head of Kocharyan’s office, described the detentions as “yet another attack on President Kocharyan and his family” by the government. He added that Kocharyan felt ill after his detention and was taken to a hospital.
During a parliamentary Q&A, Levon Kocharyan accused Prime Minister Pashinyan of pressuring courts and law‑enforcement agencies to target his family. Pashinyan responded by questioning the source of the family’s wealth, stating that any assets acquired at public expense should be returned to the state.
Kocharyan’s political alliance, the Armenia Alliance, posted on social media that the case represents personal vengeance and a “cynical manifestation of a regime that has lost its legitimacy.” The statement called the proceedings “not a legal process, but the open subjugation of the state apparatus.”
Background
Kocharyan previously faced trial in 2019 for allegedly ordering security forces to use illegal force against demonstrators protesting alleged fraud in the 2008 presidential election, a clash that left at least ten dead. Those charges were later dropped, and the case was closed in 2021.
Analyst Alexander Iskandaryan of the Caucasus Institute noted that critics have long accused Kocharyan of corruption while in power. He said the investigation will likely heighten tensions between the pro‑Russian opposition, where Kocharyan is a key figure, and Pashinyan’s pro‑Western government, which is pursuing closer ties with the European Union. “Of course, this is a signal to the Kremlin,” Iskandaryan said, adding that the authorities are intensifying efforts against political forces aligned with Russia.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
