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Araks Mamulyan

Kocharyan Fights Back at Bail Hearing: Claims Armenia Prospered Under His Rule

Taking the stand today in court in his bail hearing, former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan forcefully spoke against the argument that he could not be released from detention because he has been labelled by some as a “security threat to the government”.

Kocharyan, now on trial for bribery and usurping state power in 2008, said he had to respond to the charge, made by the lawyer of one of the aggrieved parties in the trial.

“There are two Armenian states on this earth, and I have been a leader of both. I didn’t want to make a speech, but since remarks were made that I represent a risk to the state, I must.”

Kocharyan noted that he had ruled the NKR during the entire war, that he had drafted the country's independence declaration, and that no decision was made between 1988 and the formation of the country without his consent.
“I was President of the Republic of Armenia for ten years. Prior to my presidency, Armenia was among the poorest countries,” Kocharyan said.
It was during these remarks that Seda Safaryan, the victim's lawyer, chimed in with an objection that Kocharyan's speech had nothing to do with the complaint.
Name calling and shouting then broke out in the courtroom, packed with Kocharyan supporters and detractors.
Baliffs removed several unruly spectators.
Kocharyan continued his speech.
“At one court hearing this same citizen accused me of killing his wife via a heart attack. What connection do I have with that? I say that during my presidency, Armenia became a middle-income country, and that has been maintained to this day. If a person with these results is considered a threat to the statehood, then what can I say, then we are a country of thugs,” Kocharyan said.

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