Armenia: what role can ex-president Robert Kocharian still play after his acquittal?
Former Armenian President Robert Kocharian at the opening of his trial in Yerevan on Monday, May 13, 2019. Vahram BAGHDASARYAN / AFP / PHOTOLURE
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
On Tuesday April 6, Armenian justice acquitted former President Robert Kotcharian, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008. He was prosecuted for his possible responsibility in the death of ten citizens who demonstrated on March 1, 2008 against an election. presidential election that they considered falsified.
In 2018, after the arrival of Nikol Pachinian as Prime Minister, Robert Kotcharian was indicted and imprisoned three times.
Régis Genté, RFI correspondent in the region, deciphers the impact of the acquittal of the former president.
Publicity
Read more
Why is this acquittal important?
Because, although hated by the people,
Robert Kotcharian
is still a heavyweight in Armenian politics.
The "
Velvet Revolution
" of 2018 was supported by the vast majority of the nearly three million Armenians who wanted to rid the country of the old regime, accused of corruption.
But the political circles of Robert Kotcharian and his successor,
Serge Sarkissian, overthrown in 2018
, remain powerful.
They control the oligarchs of the country, the media and still have many relays in the organs of force, in the justice system and in the key administrations of the country.
In addition, Robert Kotcharian is obviously someone who has the preference of Russia, very influential in Armenia, in particular after the
war of Nagorno-Karabakh
, lost by the Armenian side last November.
Is this judgment considered "fair"?
Not really, no.
The head of government, Nikol Pachinian
, has been fighting since almost coming to power so that Armenian justice is no longer in the hands of judges placed by the old regime.
He notably fought for the appointment of the president of the Constitutional Court, which played a decisive role in the acquittal of Robert Kotcharian.
She decided, two weeks before this acquittal, to declare unconstitutional a section of the Penal Code on the basis of which the former head of state was accused.
What is the political impact of this acquittal?
As I mentioned, Robert Kotcharian is hated by the vast majority of Armenians.
Voting intentions for the early parliamentary election on June 21 are around 5%.
But the man is powerful, as much by his support in the ruling circles of the country as outside the country, as in Russia.
During his detentions since his indictment, Russian President Vladimir Poutin demonstratively wished Robert Kotcharian's birthday or visited his wife.
And this while Moscow hardly carries Nikol Pachinian in its heart.
This acquittal could revive Robert Kotcharian and his supporters and give them the means to overthrow the current government, although the latter is still largely ahead of its opponents in the polls.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Armenia
Nikol Pachinian
Justice
Serge Sarkissian
Russia
Vladimir Poutine
On the same subject
Nagorno-Karabakh: Amnesty calls for prompt investigation of civilian deaths
Armenia: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign in April