Ex-president in court on graft charges
YEREVAN: Former Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan yesterday went on trial on charges of corruption, nearly two years after he was ousted by a popular uprising following a decade in office.
Mr Sargsyan, who dominated Armenia in two consecutive terms as president from 2008, resigned in 2018 when his plan to stay in power by taking the post of prime minister sparked mass protests led by journalist-turned-politician Nikol Pashinyan.
Mr Sargsyan initially adopted a low profile in the months after his resignation. But over the last year he has re-emerged and harshly criticised Mr Pashinyan, who succeeded him as premier.
The 65-yearold former military officer was charged in December with organising an embezzlement scheme that allegedly helped enrich government officials.
He was banned from leaving the country and if convicted could face up to eight years in jail.
Prosecutors said that in 2013 Mr Sargsyan helped to organise a scheme for a private company to supply diesel fuel for the government’s agricultural assistance programme at a deliberately inflated price. The surplus of 489 million drams (31.7 million baht) was then pocketed by the officials and businessmen involved in the scheme, prosecutors claim.
There is no direct indication in the indictment over whether Mr Sargsyan had personally benefited from the plot.
Mr Sargsyan and his Republican Party have denounced the charges as “fabricated and aimed at silencing political opponents”, calling them “dangerous developments jeopardising democracy”.