Pashinyan accuses Kocharyan of orchestrating deadly 2008 post-election crackdo

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday accused second President Robert Kocharyan of orchestrating the deadly post-election crackdown on protesters during the final days of his presidency in 2008.

Speaking at a press briefing amid a campaign event for his Civil Contract party, Pashinyan said that all the facts regarding the events of March 1, 2008, are available and that those responsible must be held accountable.

A criminal investigation into the deadly post-election unrest in Yerevan in 2008 is still ongoing. Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan had rallied supporters in Yerevan against what he described as rigged elections that declared Serzh Sargsyan president-elect. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed during mass disturbances and clashes between demonstrators and security forces on March 1, 2008, during the final days of Robert Kocharyan’s presidency.

“We now have a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights clearly stating that what happened on March 1, 2008, was organized by the state, and this must receive a response,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the 2025 ruling by the European court, which found that the authorities violated the victims’ “right to life” guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The ECHR ruled on a lawsuit filed in 2011 by the families of eight protesters, as well as Interior Troops conscript Tigran Abgaryan, who was killed during the unrest. 

According to Pashinyan, there are public expectations that those responsible in the case should be held accountable.

“People are demanding answers from me, and there is a misconception among the public that, as part of backstage agreements, I am granting indulgences to Robert Kocharyan and Gagik Tsarukyan. I am saying that justice must prevail,” Pashinyan noted.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in cases where he has personal involvement, he tries to act with extra caution. In 2008, Pashinyan campaigned in support of Ter-Petrosyan, was arrested a year later, and was subsequently convicted in connection with the unrest. In 2022, a court absolved Pashinyan of all responsibility related to the deadly unrest.

“In situations where I personally have any connection whatsoever, I try two, three, and four times harder not to be active,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the political responsibility remains on me, and now there is a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, and that ruling must be addressed,” he added.

According to Pashinyan, the March 1 case has been solved.

“Those responsible must be punished. March 1 has been solved because all the materials and all the facts are in the criminal case file, and it is clear that March 1 was an event organized by Robert Kocharyan. And he must answer for it, unequivocally,” the Prime Minister stated.

Robert Kocharyan has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.