Armenian PM aide: Former president Kocharyan a "walking threat" to nation

Taron Chakhoyan, deputy chief of staff to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has described former President Robert Kocharyan as a “walking threat” to Armenia, following an interview Kocharyan gave to local media.

Chakhoyan criticised Kocharyan for comments he made that, in Chakhoyan’s view, extend beyond Armenia’s sovereign territory, Caliber.Az reports.

“He would do better to say whom he intends to go to war against,” Chakhoyan said.

The deputy chief of staff also questioned the implications of Kocharyan’s statements for Armenia’s future, asking whose blood would be shed in such a conflict and highlighting that Kocharyan has reportedly made his grandchildren citizens of another country.

Chakhoyan added, “It would be better if he explained the outcome of such a war and in what status Armenia would become part of an empire.”

He concluded: “Kocharyan is a walking threat to the Republic of Armenia.”

Kocharyan has launched a sharp critique of Armenia’s current government, accusing it of pursuing policies that he says are confrontational and risky for the nation. Speaking in a recent interview with local media, Kocharyan argued that the government has increasingly aligned itself with Western powers at the expense of traditional regional alliances, particularly with Russia.

He described this approach as short-sighted and warned that it leaves Armenia vulnerable in matters of security and diplomacy.

Kocharyan also questioned the effectiveness of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), describing it as largely Russia‑centred and suggesting that Armenia should not assume it can rely on the bloc for protection against regional threats.

On broader geopolitical dynamics, he stated that the United States has no strategic interest in the South Caucasus and urged caution in being drawn into conflicts between major powers.

In addition to foreign policy concerns, Kocharyan addressed domestic political strategy, indicating that his opposition bloc may form a unified alliance ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. He stressed that public opinion would guide the bloc’s choice of leadership, signalling his intention to play a central role in Armenia’s political landscape.

By Aghakazim Guliyev