Kathmandu— Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, a prominent figure in the country’s opposition, was detained Tuesday as part of a corruption probe, according to officials from his office. Kocharyan and his eldest son, Sedrak, are being held while investigators search their properties, focusing on alleged property deals and bribery dating back over a decade. The detentions mark a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the Armenian opposition following June’s parliamentary election, with both sides trading accusations of political maneuvering.

Escalating Political Confrontation

The arrest of Kocharyan follows months of increasing tension between his Armenia Alliance party and Pashinyan's Civil Contract. The Armenia Alliance secured 12 seats in the June parliamentary election, garnering nearly 10% of the vote, while Pashinyan’s party won a majority with almost 50%. Following the election, Kocharyan accused Pashinyan of attempting to prematurely declare victory and “usurp power.”

Pashinyan has since taken increasingly hardline stances against opposition parties, declaring them illegitimate and threatening to strip them of their political status. He has also vowed to confiscate the assets of leading opposition figures, stating they “should be left hungry.”

Details of the Corruption Allegations

Investigators are focusing on alleged property schemes between 2004 and 2009 involving land and buildings sold at significantly below market value. The Anti-Corruption Committee alleges that property belonging to an educational institution, valued at several billion drams, was sold for just 12 million drams (approximately $31,000) before being transferred to a member of Kocharyan’s family.

The committee is also investigating the sale of Defense Ministry land to a company linked to a Kocharyan associate for roughly a quarter of its market value. They allege that Kocharyan received a 30% stake in Toyota Yerevan as part of the deal, which was then transferred to his son Sedrak through what investigators claim were fictitious transactions. Tax authorities reportedly sealed off the Toyota dealership on Tuesday as part of the searches.

Legal Challenges and Previous Proceedings

Kocharyan served as Armenia’s president from 1998 to 2008, and previously led the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. He has faced criminal proceedings before, including charges related to unrest following the disputed 2008 presidential election, but that case was dismissed by the Constitutional Court due to constitutional concerns.

The Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission authorized criminal proceedings against Kocharyan in June, and he had previously been barred from leaving the country. His office has repeatedly accused authorities of attempting to fabricate a case against him.

Geopolitical Considerations

The escalating tensions come as Armenia navigates a complex geopolitical landscape, seeking closer ties with the European Union while maintaining strong economic links with Russia. Kocharyan has criticized this approach, describing it as a “geopolitical balancing act” that prioritizes EU rhetoric over economic realities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested Yerevan will eventually have to choose between the EU and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), while Armenian officials maintain they do not intend to sever ties with Moscow.

Kocharyan was taken to a medical facility after his condition deteriorated in custody, according to committee spokeswoman Marina Oganjanyan. The investigation is ongoing, and further developments are expected as authorities continue their probe into the alleged corruption schemes.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.