Armenian prosecutors detain and formally charge Robert Kocharyan, a former president and prominent opposition figure, in a corruption-related case. Armenia’s prosecutor general says prosecutors allege Kocharyan used his official role to transfer state-owned property to himself and associates on favorable terms and to conceal the property’s alleged criminal origin. Reports also say law enforcement raids target businesses linked to Kocharyan’s family.
Several outlets describe the move as part of a broader crackdown that follows Nikol Pashinyan’s June re-election. Kocharyan had previously criticized the government’s direction, including its perceived shift away from Armenia’s traditional ally, Russia. ABC News reports that Kocharyan’s eldest son is detained as well, while another outlet says the charges include allegations of property seizure and bribe-taking. Kocharyan’s legal team does not provide an immediate public response in the accounts reviewed, and the allegations have not yet been tested in court.
