Kocharian Receives Post-Operative Treatment, Cannot Attend Court Sessions - Defense

The second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, is receiving post-operative treatment and his participation in court sessions is not currently possible.

This was reported by Armen Charchyan, the executive director of the Izmirlian Medical Center, in response to inquiries from Robert Kocharian's lawyers. During today’s court session, Kocharian’s lawyer Aram Vardevanyan provided the court with the response to the inquiry.

Charchyan informed that Kocharian's participation in court sessions will not be possible for at least the next one to two weeks. It should be noted that Robert Kocharian underwent surgery at the Izmirlian Medical Center on October 9.

Considering that the court session could not proceed without the defendant, today’s court session was postponed. It is recalled that on June 25, the judge of the Court of Appeals, Armen Danielyan, decided to overturn the ruling of the first instance court judge David Grigoryan from May 18, which had suspended the proceedings against Robert Kocharian and others, and sent the case for re-examination, while ordering Kocharian’s detention.

In this case, accused individuals include former President Robert Kocharian, former Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces General Staff and former Collective Security Organization Secretary Yuri Khachaturov, former Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, and former Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan.

Yuri Khachaturov and Seyran Ohanyan are accused of undermining the constitutional order, Robert Kocharian of undermining the constitutional order and receiving a particularly large bribe, while Armen Gevorgyan is charged with assisting in undermining the constitutional order, receiving a particularly large bribe, and legalizing property obtained through criminal means.

Currently, only Robert Kocharian is in custody. The second president has been detained three times, the latest being on June 25 following the decision of the Court of Appeals judge Armen Danielyan.

For Seyran Ohanyan and Armen Gevorgyan, the measure chosen as a precaution against escape is a signature not to leave the country, while a bail has been set for Khachaturov.