In a sweeping interview delivered to multiple media outlets and released Monday, Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan issued one of his strongest critiques yet of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration, accusing it of systemic corruption, institutional collapse, and reckless foreign policy. At the same time, the former head of state asserted his readiness to return to leadership, citing his wartime record and economic management experience as critical assets for steering the country out of its current crisis.
“I have a reasonable suspicion that Nikol Pashinyan is the richest person in Armenia,” said Kocharyan, leader of the opposition Hayastan alliance. He pointed to the mismanagement of a now-defunct state investment fund, which he said burned through more than 10.7 billion drams (approximately $27.3 million USD) with no return for taxpayers. “That alone shows that Pashinyan is an Einstein of corruption,” he charged, echoing growing public frustration over unfulfilled promises and unchecked power.
In response, Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan mocked the allegations, suggesting Kocharyan should “see a doctor.” But Simonyan’s credibility on corruption issues has come under public scrutiny, with recent investigative reports revealing that his brother’s construction company, EuroAsphalt, secured over $1.4 million in government contracts in the past year alone. Watchdogs have flagged potential conflicts of interest and called for further investigation. Simonyan has declined to comment publicly, further fueling suspicion.
Kocharyan, for his part, warned that governance under Pashinyan has deteriorated into a system of incompetence and personal loyalty. Quoting Machiavelli, he remarked: “When an ignorant person becomes the head of state, they surround themselves with even more foolish people to appear intelligent. And so begins the degradation of the entire state pyramid.”
He argued that Armenia now faces a more serious emergency than at any point since independence. Drawing from his experience, he recalled assuming leadership in Artsakh when more than half the territory had been lost and hope was fading. “We didn’t have a detailed plan, but we knew what had to be done: mobilize the people, set clear goals, manage efficiently, and hold everyone accountable,” he said. “We were more organized than Azerbaijan — and that’s why we won.”
He also pointed to his record as Armenia’s prime minister and president. When he was invited to Yerevan in 1997 by then-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Armenia had gone nearly a year without paying salaries or pensions. “I eliminated those debts within a few months. And during my presidency, salaries and pensions were never delayed — not once.”
Looking ahead to the next elections, slated for June 2026, Kocharyan made clear his intention to run. “I am the person who can solve these issues. If you don’t want the issues solved, go and vote for whoever you like. If you do want them solved, vote for Kocharyan,” he said, adding that he would support any candidate with a comparable track record — “but such a person does not currently exist.”
While open to post-election cooperation with other opposition groups, including former President Serzh Sargsyan’s Republican Party (HHK), Kocharyan criticized Sargsyan’s 2018 move to prolong his rule by becoming prime minister. “That political miscalculation is what triggered the uprising that brought Pashinyan to power,” he said.
On foreign policy, Kocharyan issued a stark warning about Armenia’s strategic posture, arguing that the country cannot defend itself without restoring ties with Russia. “Armenia is not currently capable of securing its safety in the region independently,” he said. “First and foremost, we need to build a more organized army and establish relations with geopolitical partners that can address the gaps in our defense.”
He dismissed Western security guarantees as “illusory,” stating: “To think that Europe can solve any of Armenia’s security issues is naive, even childish.” Instead, he identified Russia, Turkey, and Iran as the three key powers in the South Caucasus and emphasized that Armenia has historical, cultural, and economic ties with Russia that cannot be ignored.
“We must restore our strategic partnership with Russia and also involve Iran,” he said. “Adding an Iranian dimension to Armenian-Russian relations could lead to a viable trilateral format.”
Kocharyan categorically rejected claims that he seeks to integrate Armenia into the Russia-Belarus Union State. “During my presidency, there was never any conversation with Russian presidents about Armenia becoming part of the Union State. Nor did the President of Belarus ever raise the issue.”
He also criticized the current administration for poisoning Armenia’s relationship with Moscow. “They are using the entire propaganda apparatus to spread anti-Russian sentiment and distrust,” he said. The consequence, he argued, has been strategic isolation. He referenced the September 2022 Azerbaijani offensive — during which more than 230 Armenian soldiers died — as a turning point that exposed Armenia’s vulnerability. Neither Russia nor the CSTO intervened.
“We acted like the aggrieved party, but it’s Russia that should have been offended after we nullified its role as a mediator by signing the Prague Declaration under EU auspices,” Kocharyan said. “Then we turned around and asked Russia to mediate again. You ruin relations with the leading power in the CSTO and then complain that the CSTO didn’t help you.”
Kocharyan concluded with a warning about deeper integration with the European Union. “If sovereignty is Armenia’s top priority, then the farther you stay from the EU, the better,” he said. “The European Commission has the power to fine, punish, and impose obligations on its members. That is not sovereignty.”
Despite mounting political pressure and efforts by state prosecutors to confiscate property linked to him and his family, Kocharyan insisted that his desire to return to power is not born of ambition, but of duty. “This is not a privilege,” he said. “It is a heavy responsibility — and one that I am ready to shoulder once again.”
