Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his son Sedrak Kocharyan have been detained, while law enforcement officers continue searches at the Kocharyan family’s homes.
A search is also being conducted at the home of Kocharyan’s other son, Levon Kocharyan, a lawmaker from the Armenia parliamentary faction.
Six people have been detained in proceedings involving the former president.
Investigators have obtained information concerning acquisitions of state property, alleged bribery, and large financial transfers.
According to evidence obtained in criminal proceedings investigated by Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee, a person who served as president of Armenia, acting by prior agreement with people close to him and using his official position, removed several valuable properties of public and economic significance from state ownership on various fictitious grounds.
According to information obtained during the preliminary investigation, the properties were registered in the names of affiliated companies to conceal their actual ownership and criminal origin. The acquired properties were subsequently disposed of through development and sale, transfer to third parties, as well as transfers of shares in the companies that owned them, including through donations.
In particular:
- An 8.3-hectare land plot adjacent to Acharyan and Tsarav Aghbyur streets was acquired for 44,657,000 Armenian drams.
- A two-hectare land plot located on the left side of the Cascade complex was acquired for 39,630,000 Armenian drams.
- The building at 8 Paronyan Street was acquired for 40 million Armenian drams.
- The Kaputak Sevan resort complex in Gegharkunik Province was acquired for 83,669,000 Armenian drams.
- A 29,000-square-meter land plot at 7/1 Tsitsernakaberd Highway was acquired for 12,267,000 Armenian drams.
Six people have been detained in the criminal proceedings, including the former president, his son, and other individuals allegedly involved in the criminal schemes.
