Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the second Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on New Year and Christmas, Kocharyan's office reveals.

"Warmly congratulating" Kocharyan on the upcoming holidays, Putin wished him good health, resilience and strength of spirit.

Kremlin's website, however, has not published the message.

Robert Kocharyan has been in custody since December 7.

Kocharyan, who was at the helm of the country in 1998–2008, is accused of overthrowing the constitutional order and money laundering. The first case is related to the crackdown on protests in the aftermath of presidential elections in March 2008. At that time, ten people died in clashes with the police, about 200 were injured. At the end of August 2018, the court had released Kocharyan on bail.