Armenia Detains Ex-President Kocharyan in Corruption Probe

Armenian authorities have detained former President Robert Kocharyan and his eldest son, Sedrak, as part of a corruption investigation, the country's Anti-Corruption Committee announced on Tuesday. The detentions followed raids on businesses connected to the family.

The Prosecutor General's Office said a case against Kocharyan, 71, includes charges of abuse of authority, bribery, and large-scale money laundering. Four other individuals were also detained in connection with the probe.

The investigation centers on allegations that state assets were sold to private companies below market value during Kocharyan's presidency from 1998 to 2008. His successor, Serzh Sargsyan, was also summoned for questioning, according to local media.

Bagrat Mikoyan, head of Kocharyan's office, called the detentions "yet another attack" on the former president and his family. He added that Kocharyan felt unwell after being detained and was taken to a hospital.

The arrests came less than a day after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kocharyan's younger son, Levon, clashed during a parliamentary session. Levon accused Pashinyan of pressuring courts and law enforcement to target political opponents. Pashinyan responded by questioning the source of the family's wealth, saying assets acquired at public expense should be returned to the state.

Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance party dismissed the case as personal vengeance, calling it "another cynical manifestation of a regime that has lost its legitimacy."

Kocharyan previously stood trial in 2019 over the use of force against protesters following the disputed 2008 presidential election, in which at least 10 people died. Those charges were later dropped.

Analyst Alexander Iskandaryan of the Caucasus Institute said the case is likely to deepen tensions between the pro-Russian opposition, where Kocharyan is a prominent figure, and Pashinyan's pro-Western government. "Of course, this is a signal to the Kremlin," he said, noting Kocharyan's alignment with Russian interests.