Vladimir Putin supports former Armenian president Robert Kocharyan after his arrest
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message of public support to former Armenian leader Robert Kocharyan, who is currently under arrest in Yerevan. Kocharyan is facing legal proceedings accused of alleged money laundering and abuse of power, a situation that has generated political tensions in the region.
Russia has not forgotten your personal contribution to the development of friendly and allied relations between our countries.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia
Through an official telegram released by the Kremlin on the occasion of the former leader’s 72nd birthday, Putin expressed his best wishes and spiritual strength for Kocharyan and his family. The Russian leader referred to the challenges facing the Armenian politician, whose legal situation has become complicated following the arrest of one of his relatives.
A judicial process under the microscope
The Armenian justice system recently issued a two-month pretrial detention order against Kocharyan. The operation, carried out on August 25, included home searches that affected both the former president and his son, Sedrak.
The climate of confrontation in Armenia has intensified in recent days due to various factors:
- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has questioned the origin of the Kocharyan family’s fortune, demanding clear explanations regarding their assets.
- Levon Kocharyan, son of the former president and a member of the opposition, has labeled the current government as traitors, sparking a heated verbal exchange.
- The Kocharyan camp has denounced the current government’s actions as an act of despotism that contravenes democratic and European standards.
Expectations for the meeting between Putin and Pashinyan
The political situation in Armenia will be a key point on the international agenda during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan. Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan are expected to hold a bilateral meeting this Tuesday.
In said meeting, the leaders plan to address critical issues, such as Armenia’s recent rapprochement with the European Union and the series of arrests against political figures in the country who maintain close ties with Moscow. Alofoke Deportes will continue to follow this case that keeps political stability in the Caucasus on edge.
