Armenian PM: “They will all go to prison”

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has declared that leading opposition figures, including former President Robert Kocharyan, will ultimately be sent to prison, while accusing the country's judiciary of failing to deliver justice and calling for sweeping constitutional and judicial reforms.

Speaking at a briefing, Pashinyan argued that Armenia's courts are the country's "most dysfunctional" institution and said the current judicial system allows wealthy individuals to influence legal outcomes, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Pashinyan added that his remarks extended beyond the former president.

"They will all go to prison," the prime minister declared.

The prime minister said members of the public regularly ask why Robert Kocharyan, Armenia's second president, remains free.

"There is a separation of powers. The legislative and executive branches cannot assume the functions of the judiciary. I cannot imagine these decisions being made without a new Constitution. We need to introduce a jury system. All sitting judges must undergo a thorough vetting process," Pashinyan said.

According to Pashinyan, wealthy individuals have the ability to influence outcomes within the justice system.

"A person can be caught red-handed and then acquitted. We have been fighting against the three-headed mafia [Kocharyan-Karapetyan-Tsarukyan—ed.] for eight years now, in part because we adhere to democratic principles. If we were authoritarian and totalitarian, this problem would not exist," Pashinyan said.

He also argued that constitutional provisions have contributed to the judiciary's shortcomings.

"There cannot be an oligarchic judicial system in Armenia. I will fight against this every day by every means possible. Robert Kocharyan must be imprisoned. Why am I saying this? Because the people told me so and gave me a mandate," Pashinyan said.

Earlier, Pashinyan accused opposition politicians Robert Kocharyan, Samvel Karapetyan and Gagik Tsarukyan of committing crimes and said they must be prosecuted.

By Sabina Mammadli