‘Will he speak of democracy while keeping two archbishops and Samvel Karapetyan in prison?’ – Kocharyan on Pashinyan

In Armenia today, the person fighting corruption is the one leading it, Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan said during a press conference in response to a question about whether he would leave politics following the re-election of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

“Do you remember the 2018 elections and the slogans Nikol Pashinyan used during his campaign? Democracy, the fight against corruption, social justice—those were the main themes. In the 2021 elections, again: democracy, the fight against corruption, social justice, a firm commitment to preserve Karabakh, the de-occupation of Shushi and Hadrut. Do you remember?

Now let’s consider what slogans Pashinyan should use in the upcoming elections. Will he speak of democracy while keeping two clergymen and Samvel Karapetyan in prison? What kind of democracy is that? The most important indicator of social justice is the level of poverty. Not to mention corruption. Today in Armenia, the person fighting corruption is the one leading it—he is its ringleader,” Kocharyan said.