Armenia’s CEC approves criminal case against former President Kocharyan

Armenia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has agreed to the initiation of criminal proceedings against former President Robert Kocharyan, his lawyer, Aram Orbelyan, has said.

Following the commission’s meeting, Orbelyan made it clear that the case involves allegations of abuse of power and money laundering, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

He argued that the case materials are “based on false information” and noted that the sale of the Master Class tennis club, referenced in the case, was a government decision, while the president only formally approved such decisions.

The Prosecutor General’s Office had previously submitted a request seeking permission to bring criminal charges against Kocharyan, as well as MPs Asatur Kocharyan and Ruslan Barseghyan.

The lawyer also stated that the former president’s son, Sedrak Kocharyan, later invested in one of the companies owned by the club’s proprietors, but rejected claims that the asset was sold “at a low price.”

He further argued that the statute of limitations has expired and that CEC approval would no longer be required in two months.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov