Kocharyan Hires Lobbyist Who Worked for Azerbaijan

15.09.2018

Kocharyan Hires Lobbyist Who Worked for Azerbaijan

Armenia’s former President Robert Kocharyan, who is facing criminal charges, reportedly hired Western lobbyist, whose previous work included defending interest of Azerbaijan.

Two publications portraying Robert Kocharyan as a victim of political persecution appeared in Western media outlets a day before Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. The articles are written by Michael Burrell, former Vice President of major PR and marketing companies Edelman and APCO Worldwide. The latter was defending interests of Azerbaijan in the US while Burrell was working there. The firm was hired by Azerbaijan’s ex-transport minister’s son Anar Mammadov.

Both articles written by Burrell did not mention any link between him and Kocharyan. Investigative journalist Grigor Atanesyan published letter’s received from Burrell assistant confirming the lobbyist’s cooperation with Kocharyan’s attorney Aram Ohanyan.