Robert Kocharyan appears in court over 2008 Armenia unrest

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was brought to the Anti-Corruption Court in Yerevan on September 18 for a hearing regarding the March 1, 2008, events. Kocharyan, who was arrested on August 27, is currently held in custody under a two-month detention order.

The legal proceedings concern the violent clashes that occurred following the disputed February 2008 presidential election. During the unrest, which involved demonstrators led by Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and security forces, ten people were killed—eight civilians and two police officers—and hundreds were injured.

During the session, the court rejected a motion from lawyers representing former Vice Prime Minister Armen Gevorkyan to terminate his criminal prosecution. Supporters of Kocharyan, including several members of the ‘Armenia’ parliamentary faction and his son, Levon Kocharyan, gathered outside the court. While family members have been granted visitation rights, deputies reported they have not received permission to visit the former president.