The opposition Armenia Alliance condemned today’s detention of former Armenia president Robert Kocharyan  and his son Sedrak as illegal and a cynical attempt by Nikol Pashinyan’s administration to remain in power.

Law enforcement today detained Kocharyan, his son, and four others as part of a sweeping corruption probe.

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee personnel also conducted searches of commercial enterprises owned by the Kocharyans. They also searched the home of Robert Kocharyan’s younger son, National Assembly deputy Levon Kocharyan.

The Armenia Alliance, led by Robert Kocharyan, declared that such actions represent the state apparatus’ open submission to one person’s political fears and desire for revenge.  

“By staging cheap displays for its own electorate, the current government is also trying to deepen the atmosphere of fear in society,” the alliance said in a statement.

The alliance described the Pashinyan administration as a “dictatorship” and that those responsible for today’s actions will eventually be held accountable.

“Neither President Kocharyan, nor his family, nor our political team can be suppressed or forced to come to terms with the current situation,” the alliance said.