Putin Sends Birthday Wishes to Armenia’s Opposition Leader Kocharyan Amidst Legal Troubles

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a birthday message to former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. The Kremlin announced that Putin wished Kocharyan and his family strength and resilience in facing current challenges.

Last week, Armenian judicial authorities arrested Kocharyan, accusing him of corruption during his presidency. The Prosecutor General’s Office stated that Kocharyan, who served as president from 1998 to 2008, allegedly used his official position to transfer state assets to himself and his associates, concealing the origins of these funds.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who came to power after street protests in 2018, has pursued a policy that critics describe as a broad suppression of staunch government opponents. This crackdown includes opposition politicians, church leaders, and civil society groups.

The leader of the Armenian Church is currently on trial in a case the church considers politically motivated. Additionally, two other prominent opposition figures, Gagik Tsarukyan and Samvel Karapetyan, are under pre-trial detention and house arrest, respectively, awaiting their court dates.

Under Pashinyan’s premiership, Armenia has shifted closer to the West and distanced itself from Moscow. Russia maintains a significant military base in the South Caucasus nation. Kocharyan, during his presidential tenure, championed close ties between Yerevan and Moscow. The recent government crackdown has particularly targeted individuals perceived as pro-Russian.

The Armenian judiciary has charged the 71-year-old Kocharyan with money laundering, bribery, and abuse of power. Nine other individuals, including one of his sons, have also been arrested in connection with the case. Kocharyan leads the “Armenia” coalition, the second-largest opposition bloc in parliament.

He was previously arrested and tried in 2019 for his actions following the disputed March 2008 elections, which resulted in clashes between police and protesters and the deaths of at least 10 people. The charges were later dropped, and that trial concluded in 2021.