Armenian court orders two-month detention of Kocharyan’s son

A court in Yerevan has ordered the detention of Sedrak Kocharyan, the son of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, for two months in a case involving alleged bribery and abuse of office. He was detained alongside his father, his lawyer Alexander Kochubayev said.

The lawyer described the proceedings as politically motivated, arguing that some of the alleged offences are subject to expired statutes of limitations and that other charges were unfounded.

“We are dealing with extrajudicial persecution,” Kochubayev said, adding that the case has an “illegal political context.”

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee previously confirmed the detention of Robert Kocharyan and his son in Yerevan.

According to prosecutors, a criminal case has been opened against the former president on charges including abuse of official powers, bribery and money laundering. The case also involves former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, former Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan, former Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, who died in 2007, and six other individuals.

The Prosecutor General’s Office said the investigation covers the period of Kocharyan’s presidency from 2004 to 2009.