Armenia - August 2026

On 25 August 2026, Armenian authorities arrested former President and current opposition leader Robert Kocharyan, opposition leader of the Armenia Alliance, following searches of his home, his sons' residences, and businesses linked to his family. Anti-corruption law enforcement officials accused Kocharyan of abuse of office, bribery, money laundering, and the acquisition of state property at below-market prices. The opposition described the proceedings as politically motivated, and the legal proceedings will be closely watched to see whether the claims that the charges are intended to marginalize challengers to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government are warranted. The arrests occurred amid broader concerns regarding investigations and prosecutions of opposition figures that began in the run-up to June 2026 parliamentary elections.