Several Major Businessmen Express Willingness to Pay Bail; Names to be Released Soon - Soghomonyan

Several major businessmen and philanthropists have expressed their willingness to participate in the payment of the bail for former Armenian President Robert Kocharian, with their names to be released in the near future. This announcement was made by Viktor Soghomonyan, the head of Kocharian's office.

In the statement, it is particularly noted: "Dear colleagues,
As you know, yesterday, on June 18, the RA Court of Appeal made a decision to replace the detention of the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, with bail. While welcoming the court's decision to eliminate over 500 days of illegal detention, I cannot hide my surprise regarding the unprecedented bail amount of 2 billion drams set by the court.
This is an unprecedented large amount that has never been used as bail in Armenia. The imposition of such a high bail could put into question the possibility of anyone's release and compel them to refrain from paying bail, considering it an practically unattainable decision made by the court. Especially since the law stipulates a short time frame for the payment—only two days.

Perhaps the obvious nature of this situation was the reason we received numerous calls immediately after the publication of the court decision from hundreds of individuals who expressed their willingness to assist in the payment of the bail, each according to their capacities.
I would like to inform you that several major businessmen and philanthropists have also expressed their willingness to participate in the payment of the bail, and their names will be disclosed soon. On behalf of President Kocharian, his family, and the office of the former President, I would like to thank everyone who supports us regardless of opportunities and political shifts.

Taking this opportunity, I also want to thank the members of President Kocharian's defense team, all those state figures who have made a significant contribution to our people’s history and were willing to personally guarantee Robert Kocharian’s freedom, our fellow comrades and supporters, the committee for President Kocharian's freedom, and all those who have raised their voices against this blatant injustice throughout this period—whether by their statements, participating in gatherings in front of the court, or signing documents demanding the President's release.
I am confident that what has happened is only the first step towards the restoration of justice."