The Authorities Lack Morality. They Have Targeted My Family. Kocharian

Former President Robert Kocharian considers the charges against his son, Sedrak Kocharian, to be "absolutely fabricated."

"The authorities lack morality and resort to various tricks and deceit to entangle me in certain corruption cases. That is why my family has become a target, of course, in the context of political persecution," the second president of Armenia said in an interview with 168 Hours.

He emphasized that the intentions of the authorities were clear since last summer, alongside the publication of scandalous wiretaps.

"Such legal laxity in Armenia has only been seen during the 1990s, during the rule of the Armenian National Movement, when political opponents were handled as they wished, even to the extent of physical elimination, while the persecution of their relatives was commonplace," said R. Kocharian.

Commenting on the government's presented program, the former president said it is a program about having no program.

"To talk about its revolutionary nature with a 5% economic growth is simply laughable," he stated.

The second president noted that the program is a collection of slogans and wishes.

"Which clearly reveals the ruling party's complete inability and unpreparedness to undertake concrete and ambitious commitments towards the pivotal development of the country and the improvement of the quality of life for our fellow citizens. This fact is emphasized by anyone who has at least some understanding of the economy," he stated.

Robert Kocharian mentioned that the authorities still do not understand that in terms of the country's investment attractiveness, the "revolution" brand is the worst of all possible options.

"And the reason for poverty is not in the minds of the people, but in the pathetic mindset of the rulers. By the way, there was regrettably no constructive discussion about this in the National Assembly, because the Prime Minister takes any criticism painfully. So, welcome to the new reality," said R. Kocharian.