Armenia releases former president Kocharyan on $4 million bail

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan speaks to the media after casting his ballot at a polling station in Yerevan February 19, 2008. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

YEREVAN (Reuters) – Armenia’s criminal court of appeal released former president Robert Kocharyan from custody on Thursday on bail of 2 billion drams ($4.2 million).

Kocharyan, who served as president for a decade, was charged with acting unlawfully in 2018 over his decision to introduce a state of emergency in March 2008 following a disputed election. At least 10 people were killed in clashes between the police and protesters.

Kocharyan’s lawyer Aram Vardevanian described the amount of the bail as “unprecedented”, but said it was good the court had accepted the bail money.

Reporting by Nvard Hovhannisyan; Editing by Alexander Marrow and Gareth Jones

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS