Political order/theft. The opposition and the authorities respond to the arrest of the Kocharyans.
25-08-2026 16:55 Armenia Politics
«Now if they say this is a political order, let me give you an even worse political order,» - stated the Vice President of the National Assembly Vahagn Aleksanyan during a press briefing, addressing the arrest of Robert Kocharyan and the searches in the homes of the Kocharyans and companies belonging to the family.
To the observation of «Freedom» that the opposition «Armenia» faction considers the searches and the arrests of Robert and Sedrak Kocharyan as a political order, Vahagn Aleksanyan responded: «For example, do they deny that Sedrak Kocharyan received 50 percent of the Play City company, which a year earlier acquired 8.3 hectares of land in Avan for 44 million? 100 thousand dollars for 8.3 hectares of land in Yerevan. Do they deny that? Now if they say this is a political order, let me give you an even worse political order: anyone who has stolen money from the budget of the Republic of Armenia, who has engaged in corruption, who has privatized state property of the Republic of Armenia at a bargain price and put it in their family's pocket, dear law enforcement agencies, I call on you to take them to the asphalt and lock them up. This is also considered a political order.»
To the question of whether he denies this, Aleksanyan replied: «I do not deny it, I am saying that if, according to you, what I said is a political order, I apologize and double that political order.»
MP Ishkhan Saghatelyan from the «Armenia» faction had earlier stated in an interview with «Freedom» regarding the arrest of the second president Robert Kocharyan and the searches in the homes of the Kocharyans and companies belonging to the family that «it is a political order from the authorities.»
In response to journalists' observation that the raid on Kocharyan's house occurred in the presence of underage children, who were in the same area, Aleksanyan replied: «Robert Kocharyan's house, when you look at it, is larger than this National Assembly building, I apologize again, if they enter a room and catch Kocharyan, the children will most likely be about two kilometers away in the same house. I always ask to keep the children out of this; may God grant health to all children, and all children should be kept away from any negative influence, I accept that very well, but how is the citizen of the Republic of Armenia guilty?», said Aleksanyan.
Today, the second president of the Republic of Armenia, the leader of the opposition «Armenia» faction Robert Kocharyan and his son Sedrak Kocharyan have been arrested. They have been charged. A petition has been submitted to the court for the detention of Robert Kocharyan and his son.
The arrests and searches today followed a sharp debate yesterday between Levon Kocharyan and Nikol Pashinyan. Kocharyan said: «The people are telling us, «Why is that filthy traitor who has destroyed Artsakh and brought thousands of casualties still here?»
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also responded to Levon Kocharyan, saying:
«On what account is your family wealthy? Where did that wealth come from? Do you want to say that your millions should be inherited by your children, and your children to their children... I am telling you directly, that will not happen. This is not a personal issue, but a political problem. Everything must be returned to the Republic of Armenia, piece by piece.»
Kocharyan responded: «What should be returned to whom should be decided by the court, not by the first person of the country.»
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
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