YEREVAN -- Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharian, who is currently in pretrial detention, has been hospitalized to undergo medical examinations, according to his lawyer and one of his aides.
Lawyer Hovannes Khudoyan told RFE/RL that Kocharian “will probably need to stay in hospital for several days,” without saying what medical condition he has.
However, the head of Kocharian’s office, Viktor Soghomonian, said that the 65-year-old former president was taken to a hospital late on March 8 with fluctuating blood pressure.
Kocharian, who ruled Armenia from 1998 to 2008, is currently on trial on charges stemming from his alleged role in a 2008 postelection crackdown on the opposition, as well as for taking bribes.
He rejects the charges as politically motivated.
Since his arrest in July 2018, Kocharian has twice been released from pretrial detention following court decisions, but in both cases he was rearrested after prosecutors’ appeals.
In October, Kocharian underwent what medics described as a successful surgery. His son Levon has said he was operated on for a benign tumor, without giving further details.
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Belarusian Prankster Dupes Russian Teachers Into Wearing Tinfoil Hats To Ward Off 'Foreign Enemies'
2Kosovo-Romania Match Abandoned After Kosovar Players Leave Field Complaining Of 'Racism'
3How Does Marco Rubio, Trump's Pick For Secretary Of State, See The World?
4Ukraine Live Briefing: All-Out Assault On Kupyansk
5Russian Forces Reportedly Start All-Out Assault On Key Ukrainian City Of Kupyansk
6How The Caspian Sea Became A Battlefield
7A 'Turn To The Right': Donald Trump And The Rise Of Populist Leaders
8Peace Talks Brewing, Russia And Ukraine Jockey For Advantage -- On And Off The Battlefield
9Anti-War Russian Chef Found Dead In Belgrade
10With U.S. Ties In The Balance, Kallas Seeks Bold EU Stance On Russia And China
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.