Kocharian has No Ties with Armenian-American Mafia Charged in US: Spokesperson

The office of former president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian denies claims by the country’s opposition that Kocharian had ties with Armen Kazarian, the ringleader of an Armenian-American organized crime enterprise arrested last week on charges of racketeering, identity theft, fraud and money laundering.

“Naturally, I deny such claims, and it’s not the first time I denied them,” said Kocharian’s office manager Viktor Soghomonyan in speaking with Azatutyun Radio (RFE/RL Armenia). 

Soghomonyan also denied reports that Armen Kazarian participated in Robert Kocharian’s son Sedrak Kocharian’s wedding ceremony. 

“They even sent me a photo to recognize [him], but it was a photo of a completely different person,” he said.