The Kocharyan case has expanded with the indictment of Serzh Sargsyan.
The third president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, has been charged with abuse of power in the criminal case against Robert Kocharyan. In this same case, criminal prosecution has also been initiated against nine other individuals.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", today the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and his son Sedrak were detained in a corruption case. The investigation claims that during Kocharyan's presidency, several state properties were acquired at undervalued prices, and part of the property and shares of companies were registered in the names of his family members.
The investigation has expanded the list of accused
The third president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has today been charged with abuse of official powers or exceeding authority, News.am reported today, citing the Anti-Corruption Committee.
The Anti-Corruption Committee clarified that the charges against Sargsyan were made in the context of the case against Robert Kocharyan. "In the framework of the criminal case initiated against the second president Robert Kocharyan at the Anti-Corruption Committee, charges have also been brought against former president Serzh Sargsyan," News.am quoted the agency's statement.
Shortly before the charges were brought, Sargsyan arrived at the Anti-Corruption Committee. Before entering, he told journalists that he did not know under which case he was summoned, Aysor.am noted today.
The Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia reported that on August 24, criminal prosecution was initiated against Robert Kocharyan for three episodes of abuse of power, two episodes of receiving bribes in particularly large amounts, and four episodes of money laundering in particularly large amounts. Nine other individuals have also become subjects of this case, the agency "News-Armenia" reported today.
Among them, the Prosecutor General's Office named Sedrak Kocharyan, Serzh Sargsyan, former Yerevan mayor Gagik Beglaryan, entrepreneur Samvel Mayrapetyan, and others. According to the investigation, from 1998 to 2008, state property was transferred to individuals and companies associated with Kocharyan on favorable terms, including at prices significantly below market value and without public auctions, the news agency noted.
Pashinyan stated his intention to return appropriated property to the state
The Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, speaking today in parliament during the discussion of the government program, stated the authorities' intention to return to the state and citizens property that, according to him, was previously illegally appropriated. "Everything you took from the people, we will come, destroy, take, and return to the people – penny by penny. We do not need a loyal bribe-taker. We have an obligation to the people, and we must fulfill it," the agency "News-Armenia" quoted him as saying today.
Responding to the speech of opposition faction member "Armenia" Agvan Vardanyan, who positively assessed the management of the country under Kocharyan, Pashinyan again spoke out against political opponents. He stated that he has a mandate and legitimacy, and reiterated his promise to "bend" opponents, clarifying that he uses this word "in a de jure sense," the news agency noted.
The head of Robert Kocharyan's office Bagrat Mikoyan regarded today's investigative actions as pressure from the authorities on the former president and his family. "The reports that appeared in the media yesterday have been confirmed: another attack by the authorities on President Kocharyan and his family has begun," News.am quoted Mikoyan as saying today.
It should be noted that the parliamentary elections on June 7 in Armenia took place against the backdrop of mass detentions of opposition members. On the day of voting, about 20 supporters of the "Strong Armenia" and "Armenia" blocs were detained in Gyumri, and law enforcement conducted searches in opposition headquarters. The Investigative Committee then reported that since the beginning of the election campaign, 117 criminal cases had been initiated, public criminal prosecution had been initiated against 86 individuals, and about 280 searches had been conducted.
After the voting, Nikol Pashinyan declared the victory of the "Civil Contract" and stated that the party had "defeated" its main opponents, whom he referred to as the "three-headed party of war." He also promised to ensure criminal prosecution of their leaders. On June 17, the Central Election Commission gave consent for the criminal prosecution of Robert Kocharyan, who, as a candidate in the parliamentary elections, had immunity.