Senior official accuses Armenian former president of hidden fortunes in Africa, Greece

A senior official in the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office has launched a scathing critique of former President Robert Kocharyan and his family, implying illicit enrichment and corruption linked to their years in power.

Taron Chakhoyan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Office, took to social media to respond to recent criticisms from the Kocharyan camp regarding Armenia's judicial system, Caliber.Az reports.

In a strongly worded post, Chakhoyan mocked the Kocharyans' purported dissatisfaction with the judiciary, framing it as a sign that justice is finally being served.

“God forbid the day ever comes when the Kocharyans are satisfied with the judicial system,” Chakhoyan wrote. “Of course, they will remain dissatisfied. It’s difficult to explain how a holey jumper turned into a gold mine in Africa, and worn-out bast shoes became a mansion in Greece.”

The metaphor-laden post alluded to alleged unexplained wealth linked to the Kocharyan family, suggesting a dramatic transformation in their financial status that, according to Chakhoyan, warrants legal scrutiny.

“The Kocharyans' dissatisfaction is an indicator of the efficiency of our judicial and law enforcement institutions. The more displeased they are, the more effectively those systems are functioning,” he added.

Robert Kocharyan, who served as Armenia’s president from 1998 to 2008, has frequently clashed with the current government and has been involved in multiple legal cases, including corruption charges, which he has consistently denied, describing them as politically motivated.

By Vafa Guliyeva