Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his eldest son, Sedrak Kocharyan, were arrested on Tuesday as part of a major anti-corruption investigation into alleged abuse of office, bribery and large-scale money laundering, Armenian authorities said.
Kocharyan, who served as Armenia’s president from 1998 to 2008 and now leads the opposition Armenia Alliance, is accused of using his presidential position to acquire valuable state-owned properties at prices significantly below their market value.
According to Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee, investigators allege that state assets were transferred through various schemes to companies affiliated with Kocharyan and people close to him in order to conceal their ownership and alleged criminal origins. The properties were subsequently developed, sold or transferred to third parties.
Among the cases under investigation are several large plots of land and commercial properties in Yerevan. Authorities allege, for example, that a Defense Ministry-owned property was sold to a company linked to an associate of Kocharyan at roughly one-quarter of its market value. Investigators also cited alleged transfers involving properties connected to the Play City and Orange Fitness businesses.
The Anti-Corruption Committee said six people had been arrested in connection with the case, including Kocharyan and his son. Sedrak Kocharyan faces allegations including large-scale money laundering and assisting in the alleged abuse of office and bribery scheme.
The investigation has also expanded to former President Serzh Sargsyan, who has faced criminal prosecution in connection with the same case, according to Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee.
Kocharyan’s political allies have rejected the allegations and described the arrest as politically motivated. A message published on his Telegram account characterized the detention as an attack by the authorities against Kocharyan and his family.
Kocharyan is one of Armenia’s most prominent opposition figures and has traditionally supported close relations with Russia. His arrest comes amid a broader political confrontation between the government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and opposition forces, as Armenia continues to move toward closer ties with the West.
The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against Kocharyan and the other suspects have not been established by a final court ruling.
