Armenia's Anti-Corruption Committee announced the detention of six people in connection with a criminal case involving alleged corruption schemes. Among those detained are the country's former president Robert Kocharyan and his son Sedrak. According to law enforcement, the suspects allegedly acted as part of a group, using the former head of state's official position to divert valuable assets from state ownership.
Investigation's Version: Asset Diversion Schemes
According to the preliminary investigation, the former head of state, acting together with close associates, may have diverted assets from state ownership and acquired them at prices significantly below market value. The investigation is examining several episodes, including transactions involving land plots and real estate in Yerevan, as well as the Kaputak Sevan resort complex. Some of the assets, according to law enforcement, were registered through companies linked to the former president and his relatives. Earlier, searches and other procedural actions were carried out in properties associated with the Kocharyan family, including the Orange Fitness club and the Play City entertainment center.
Financial Scale and Asset Seizure
Separately, law enforcement is examining monetary transfers made into the name of Kocharyan's son between 2001 and 2019. These amount to approximately 144 billion drams, 309 million dollars, 77 million euros, and 18 million Russian rubles. In addition, the investigation is establishing the circumstances of the acquisition of more than 30 real estate properties in Armenia and abroad. Measures to seize the assets have been initiated to prevent their possible alienation.
Contradictory Data
Publications by various media outlets show discrepancies in describing the stage of the proceedings. Basic reports (citing NEWS.am and the Anti-Corruption Committee) speak of the detention of six people within a criminal case and emphasize that the information provided reflects the version of the ongoing preliminary investigation. At the same time, the headline of an RFI article dated August 25, 2026, frames the event as the filing of charges of corruption against the former president. Thus, one set of sources describes the procedural action as a detention within the investigation, while another describes it as the filing of charges; the exact stage and legal status of the claims may differ depending on the source at the time of publication.
Political Context: Course Toward the EU
The detention comes against the backdrop of statements by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Yerevan may soon begin the official process of submitting an application to join the European Union. According to him, after submitting the application, receiving a response from Brussels, and drawing up a roadmap, the authorities intend to hold a nationwide referendum on EU membership. The Anti-Corruption Committee, for its part, emphasizes that the investigation is ongoing and that the information presented reflects the version of the preliminary investigation.
