Kocharyan criminal case 'politicized', former prime minister claims

A former prime minister of Armenia on Monday blasted the criminal case against the second president, downplaying the entire proceeding as "politically motivated".

Karen Karapetyan, who led the Armenian cabinet from 2016 until 2018, voiced instead his high appreciation  of Robert Kocharyan's contribution to the independence of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).

Earlier, Karapetyan and two other former prime ministers of Armenia, Vazgen Manukuyan and Khosrov Harutyunyan, as well as a former prime minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, Anushavan Danielyan, initiated a joint appeal requesting the replacement of Kocharyan's detention with another measure of restraint.

"I have fixed in my motion why I am actually doing that. And I think I have my own understanding of the logic. Like many other people, I have an interest too, in providing a maximum [exhaustive] response to the society's concerns regarding the 'March 1' [2008 post-electoral events] not to leave room for any gaps or residues. Secondly, I respect and appreciate Robert Kocharyan's input and contribution into the independence and stability of the Republic of Armenia and the Artsakh Republic," he told reporters at the National Assembly.

Kocharyan is facing criminal charges over breaching Armenia's constitutional order in the period of the March 2008 post-electoral turmoil. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed in the anti-government protests disputing the outcome of the February 19 presidential election. The former president was charged in 2018 and has been in custody most of the time ever since. Also Yuri Khachaturov, a former Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary-General (who led the Yerevan police garrison at the time), Armen Gevrogyan, a former Vice Prime Minister of Armenia, and Seyran Ohanyan, a former Minister of Defense, have been indicted in connection with the deadly events. 

Karapetyan cited the protracted processes as another reason behind his decision to file a motion with the first instance court handling the proceeding.

Meantime, the former prime minister ruled out any plans for a political comeback.

The court ruling on commuting Kocharyan's measure of restraint is due at 5:50pm local time on Wednesday.

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