On October 21, Vardan Ghukasyan, the Mayor of Gyumri, was ordered to be arrested for two months by the Anti-Corruption Court. Ghukasyan’s lawyer, Zaruhi Postanjyan, argued that there were no legal grounds for the arrest and revealed that her client had been wiretapped since his first day in office. "The elected mayor has been arrested. We are dealing with a clearly orchestrated criminal case aimed at creating chaos in Gyumri," Postanjyan stated. Postanjyan further claimed that the authorities were so determined to justify Ghukasyan’s detention that they assembled a 21-member investigative team. She emphasized that while corruption was widespread across the country, no other cases were being pursued. "Corruption is flourishing in the republic; I'm not the only one warning about this, but no cases are being opened. But so many people are involved in this case," she stressed. According to the lawyer, Ghukasyan was subjected to mistreatment during his detention. Despite suffering from diabetes, he had not eaten since the previous morning and was denied access to clothing and basic hygiene items.

On October 20, Henrik Gasparyan, the Chief Architect of Gyumri, was also arrested by court order in connection with the same corruption investigation. The Armenian Anti-Corruption Committee reported that two other municipal officials, including the Chief Engineer, were likewise remanded in custody as part of the ongoing bribery case involving several members of the Gyumri community administration. Notably, in the March 30, 2025 municipal elections in Gyumri, opposition forces rallied around Ghukasyan (running as a candidate from the Communist Party of Armenia), and on April 16, 2025, he was elected mayor of Gyumri with 18 votes in favor (among the council of elders) while the ruling party’s faction boycotted. Ghukasyan has made clear statements supporting closer ties with Russia and a “union-state” model (similar to the Belarus-Russia union) while denying that Armenia’s sovereignty would be compromised by such alignment. He has also claimed an assassination attempt is being prepared against him, alleging pressure and targeting from forces aligned with the government.

Armenian Vice Speaker Rubinyan Cites Anti-Corruption Evidence Against Gyumri Mayor Ghukasyan 

On October 21, Ruben Rubinyan, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, stated that the Anti-Corruption Committee’s evidence implicates Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan in bribery. The Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament stated that the Anti-Corruption Committee claims Vardan Ghukasyan is involved in bribery. "I listened to the recording of the Anti-Corruption Committee, from which it is clear that Vardan Ghukasyan is demanding a bribe. This is my political assessment," Rubinyan noted, emphasizing his respect for the work of the Anti-Corruption Committee. He added that the arrest of the mayor of Gyumri serves as a warning to all local government bodies that bribery will be punished. "It is a signal to everyone that all bribe-takers will receive the punishment they deserve in prison," he stated.

Rubinyan also announced that a meeting of the interdepartmental commissions on the restoration and resumption of the Gyumri-Kars railway will be held soon, with details about the location to be shared later. He further reported that negotiations on opening the borders are ongoing.