Robert Kocharyan, the former President of Armenia and leader of the ‘Armenia’ alliance, has been barred from leaving the country. The news was first reported by pro-government media, and was subsequently confirmed by Bagrat Mikoyan, the head of Kocharyan’s office.
At Zvartnots Airport, Kocharyan was stopped by law enforcement officers and prevented from leaving the country. Mikoyan stated that he considers the authorities’ decision to be “illegal and unfounded”.
On 14 June, Kocharyan wrote on Facebook that he was planning a three-day visit, which was of a personal nature and had been planned for some time, but had been postponed due to a “busy pre-election schedule”. The politician noted that he had made such visits before, but this time decided to announce it in advance due to the “fake news recently spread by the authorities regarding the travels of opposition representatives”.
The son of former President Levon Kocharyan told the Factor TV channel that his father was planning to travel to Russia.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously released a video message in which he stated that the people demand “to bring the three-headed mafia to its knees, to destroy it, and this must inevitably happen”. By the “three-headed mafia”, explains Radio Free Europe’s Armenian service, he means his opponents – Robert Kocharyan, Samvel Karapetyan (“Strong Armenia”) and Gagik Tsarukyan (“Prosperous Armenia”). Karapetyan and Tsarukyan had previously been barred from leaving the country due to criminal cases brought against them.
Armenia’s Central Election Commission announced the final results of the parliamentary elections on 14 June. Pashinyan’s “Civil Contract” party received 49.745% of the vote, Karapetyan’s “Strong Armenia” – 23.271%, and Kocharyan’s “Armenia ” alliance – 9.923%.
Tsarukyan’s “Prosperous Armenia” party garnered 3.989% and failed to enter parliament.