Ohanyan: There is Political Persecution Against Kocharian

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction has just rejected the motion to immediately lift the measures of restraint against the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian.

After the court session, former CSTO Secretary Yuri Khachaturov did not respond to reporters' questions, while former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan stated in an interview with journalists that he never shies away from anything in his life, referring to prosecutors' insinuations that he might evade further judicial proceedings. “What invitation, what document? I have voluntarily presented myself, and the doubters should think for themselves,” he said.

When asked whether he believes that Robert Kocharian is a political prisoner, he replied, “I believe that there is a differentiated approach towards Robert Kocharian. I believe that something is not right. Let everyone think whether he is a political prisoner or not. It is possible that there is political persecution.”

Ohanyan emphasized that he does not accept his accusation, stating, “It is directed based on the recording of a well-known conversation. I haven’t done anything serious. I haven’t given any orders, and I didn’t write those orders. Those orders were written to neutralize the situation. There was information from the NSS that there would be an attack on the military bases to acquire weapons.”

It is noteworthy that Robert Kocharian's defense team had submitted a motion to change his detention measure. They proposed either to use bail or other measures not related to imprisonment.