Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and son detained on corruption charges

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, 71, and his eldest son, Sedrak, have been detained by authorities on multiple charges, including abuse of power, bribery, and large-scale money laundering. The detentions occurred after law enforcement conducted searches at dozens of locations reportedly linked to the family.

The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia announced the criminal proceedings against Kocharyan. The investigation focuses on allegations that state assets were illegally sold to private companies at prices below their market value during Kocharyan's tenure as president, which spanned from 1998 to 2008. Four additional individuals have also been detained as part of this ongoing investigation.

Kocharyan's office has characterized the detentions as "another attack against Kocharyan and his family" by the authorities. The case involves nine other individuals besides Kocharyan. Notably, former President Serzh Sargsyan, who served as prime minister under Kocharyan and later as president, is also facing charges of abuse of power in relation to this case. Sargsyan was summoned to the Anti-Corruption Committee's headquarters in Yerevan for questioning.

Robert Kocharyan currently leads the pro-Russia Armenia Alliance, which is the second-largest opposition bloc in the Armenian Parliament. During his presidency, Kocharyan strengthened ties with Moscow, signing a declaration of allied partnership and overseeing a significant increase in Russian investment in Armenia's economy. He maintained a close personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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one more attack against Kocharyan and his family