Robert Kocharian, a former Armenian president leading one of the country’s main opposition groups, was arrested on Tuesday the day after his younger son Levon bitterly argued with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in the parliament.
Kocharian was taken into custody in the morning as law-enforcement officers searched his home, the apartments of Levon and his older son Sedrak as well as the offices of businesses owned by them. Sedrak Kocharian and four other individuals were also arrested as a result.
Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) claimed that Robert Kocharian, who had ruled the country from 1998-2008, had abused his powers to acquire state-owned property at cutdown prices. It did not elaborate.
The crackdown followed Monday’s tense verbal exchange between Pashinian and Levon Kocharian, who is a parliament deputy from the opposition Hayastan alliance led by the ex-president. It took place during a parliament debate on the Armenian government’s five-year policy program. A question asked by Kocharian Jr. left Pashinian fuming.
“Why is your family a millionaire?” said the premier. “Where did you get that wealth from? You mean to say that your millions will be inherited by your children and your children [will then bequeath them to] their children ... I'm telling you straight up that it won't happen.”
“The court should decide what should be returned to whom, not the country's top official,” Levon Kocharian hit back, accusing Pashinian of violating his family’s presumption of innocence and exerting pressure on the court.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged: for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged,” Pashinian replied, quoting the Bible. “Now what I’ve told you [means] yes, I am judging you and I will judge you, and I am ready to be judged with the same judgment.”
Hayastan was one of the three main opposition groups that challenged Pashinian in the June 7 parliamentary elections and accused him of rigging them. Pashinian has repeatedly pledged to jail their top leaders, including Kocharian, before and after the elections. His critics say these statements prove that law-enforcement authorities cracking down on the Armenian opposition act on his illegal orders. Dozens of opposition leaders, members and supporters have been arrested in recent months.
They include Gagik Tsarukian, a wealthy businessman leading the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) that was controversially denied seats in the new parliament. Tsarukian was arrested and indicted in early July on what he sees as politically motivated charges. The authorities also shut down dozens of businesses belonging to him.
