Armenia’s internal political scene is once again dominated by serious scandal, infighting and confrontation. At the centre of the latest turmoil are members of the former ruling establishment, most notably Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, both of whom have been closely associated with Russia and have reportedly been detained by law enforcement authorities. At this point, the famous words of Ibn Khaldun, one of the most influential thinkers of the Arab and Islamic intellectual tradition, come to mind: “Injustice ruins civilisation.” His political thought repeatedly draws a stark distinction between strong, legitimate authority and rulers whose corruption, complacency and pursuit of privilege ultimately undermine the very states they once controlled.
There is, therefore, little that should come as a surprise when those who once sought to build their power across a vast geography by seizing lands that did not belong to them eventually find themselves sitting in the defendant’s dock, answering questions before the very institutions of the state they once sought to dominate. Recently, Armenian authorities detained former President Robert Kocharyan and his son Sedrak on August 25, marking one of the most consequential developments in the country’s recent domestic politics. Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee said the two men had been taken into custody as investigators pursued several lines of inquiry.
According to investigators, Kocharyan acquired state property at below-market prices and transferred assets to affiliated companies. Now, the circumstances surrounding the transfer of 56 properties to the former president, as well as substantial payments allegedly made in his son’s name, are being closely examined. At the same time, law-enforcement officers searched businesses linked to the Kocharyan family.
The raids reportedly targeted the family-owned Orange Premium Fitness Club, a Toyota dealership, and the shops and offices of Pregomesh, a jewellery brand owned by Kocharyan’s daughter-in-law, the well-known Armenian singer Sirusho. National Security Service officers arrived at the home of Levon Kocharyan, a member of parliament from the Armenia Alliance and Robert Kocharyan’s elder son. Besides, a court in Yerevan has also ruled to keep former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at liberty under a travel ban, following a motion filed by Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee.
Kocharyan’s detention is the latest in a string of criminal cases involving Pashinyan’s political adversaries. The pressure became particularly visible during the parliamentary campaign. In the June 7 election, the governing Civil Contract party won 49.7% of the vote and retained power.
Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia came second with 23.2%, while Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance received 9.9%. Even before voters went to the polls, opposition candidates and activists had been detained in cases involving alleged vote-buying. After his victory, Pashinyan made it clear that he had no intention of taking his foot off the gas.
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