Robert Kocharyan accuses government of 'state racketeering'

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has accused the country’s leadership of undermining state institutions, national identity and economic stability.

At a meeting with his supporters on Thursday, Kocharyan asked what a responsible national leader should do, answering: “Strengthen statehood, national identity and the economy. Another key component is internal stability, which allows society’s potential to be consolidated for national goals.”

He argued that current authorities were doing the opposite, alleging that Armenia’s security architecture and military capabilities were being “dismantled” and the country’s “military-political alliance” had already been effectively weakened.

On national identity, Kocharyan accused the government of targeting “the three most important components – the church, history and state symbols”.

Turning to the economy, he said growth had failed to reduce poverty, which in his view indicated that the system was not inclusive and that the investment climate had “collapsed”. He further claimed “state racketeering is rampant, particularly against large businesses”, citing issues involving energy distribution networks and the Kajaran mine operated by the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC).

Kocharyan said trust between the public and the government, which he described as crucial for internal stability, was eroding. “The question is why all of this is being done, what the motivation is,” he said. “What is happening is the exact opposite of what a skilled leader should do.”