Russia, Armenia’s strategic ally, is definitely seriously concerned about the political persecution against Robert Kocharyan. This is what Head of the Office of the second President of Armenia Victor Soghomonyan told journalists today.

“A former president is currently in prison, and he was sentenced to prison by violation of the Constitution. This is a very bad precedent. It’s also clear that President Kocharyan is currently a member of the board of directors of one of Russia’s largest corporations and has been a member for 11 years now. It’s a pain for me to hear statements about political persecutions in Armenia. If any truth was revealed, I have no doubt that President Kocharyan would agree to reveal it and get it over with,” Soghomonyan declared.

As far as Robert Kocharyan’s future political career is concerned, Soghomonyan said the following: “No jail can prohibit a person from being involved in politics. He still has plans to be in politics, but it’s up to him to decide the way and the extent. There are Armenian public, state and political figures who aren’t afraid to be persecuted by the authorities. President Kocharyan is in politics in or out of jail.”