Armenia's Opposition Faces Arrests After Political Tensions
Pashinyan brands himself ‘judge’ of the opposition
Opposition lawmaker Levon Kocharyan accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of overstepping democratic boundaries by publicly declaring who should face imprisonment and property seizure. The confrontation escalated when Pashinyan demanded explanations about the Kocharyan family's wealth and stated, "Yes, I am judging you."
The following day, masked officers arrested Levon Kocharyan's brother Sedrak and detained former President Robert Kocharyan, who was hospitalized after his health deteriorated in custody. Searches targeted family properties and businesses. Former President Serzh Sargsyan was also summoned and charged.
International observers have raised concerns about judicial independence. The OSCE noted that criminal proceedings against opposition figures discouraged campaign participation in June elections. Democracy monitoring organizations have warned of politically motivated arrests and documented a pattern of prime-ministerial declarations followed by law enforcement action.