On October 20, law enforcement officials detained Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan and seven other municipal officials in connection with an alleged corruption scheme.
According to Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC), the investigation revealed that Mayor Ghukasyan and Chief Architect Henrik Gasparyan acted in collusion, demanding and receiving bribes from citizens in exchange for legalizing unauthorized buildings. The committee reported that the officials had arranged to overlook a 1,500-square-meter illegal construction at 1/9 Garegin Nzhdeh Street in Gyumri, preparing falsified documents to present the building as legally constructed. In return, they allegedly demanded a bribe of 4 million AMD.
The two officials allegedly met several times with the property owner to discuss the legalization process and agreed on a phased payment scheme described as “action–payment–action–payment.”
According to the ACC report, the group also collected information on “undesirable” city council members to blackmail them and maintain influence over municipal affairs.
The mayor is further accused of abusing his official powers to transfer municipal land to an associate under false pretenses and to legalize a relative’s property using falsified documentation. The chief architect allegedly received bribes in at least six other cases.
The ACC stated that investigations are ongoing to identify all individuals involved and to fully uncover the structure of the corruption network.
Shortly after the detention, tensions flared in front of the Gyumri Municipality building as demonstrators gathered in support of Mayor Ghukasyan. A clash occurred between protesters and police when law enforcement officers attempted to form a security line to facilitate Ghukasyan’s removal from the premises.
Some demonstrators tried to block police actions, leading to a physical confrontation. Video footage showed officers detaining several individuals. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that detentions took place but did not immediately specify the number, promising further updates.
Chief Architect Henrik Gasparyan was escorted out of the building by investigators and taken to an undisclosed location. Mayor Ghukasyan exited through the rear entrance and was rushed into a vehicle for transport to Yerevan, where he will face further proceedings at the Anti-Corruption Committee.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs later confirmed that 23 individuals were detained near the municipality building and taken to local police departments.
The Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case under three articles of Armenia’s Criminal Code:
- Article 327 (1): Participation in mass disturbances
- Article 452 (3): Interference with lawful duties or political activities of officials
- Article 486 (2.1): Obstruction of justice or interference in a legal investigation
According to the committee, a group of individuals gathered near and inside the municipality, including around its entrances, with the intent to obstruct law enforcement activities. They allegedly engaged in violent acts, damaged property, and used force against police officers attempting to perform their duties.
A special investigative team has been assigned to the case. Authorities have warned that interference with lawful investigative or police actions constitutes a criminal offense and urged citizens to refrain from unlawful behavior.
Ghukasyan’s lawyer reported that he is being transferred to Yerevan by the Anti-Corruption Committee for further proceedings. Despite the tense situation, witnesses noted that the mayor appeared calm and even smiled as he was hurried into the car.
Following the events, groups of Gyumri residents began traveling to Yerevan to demonstrate in front of the Anti-Corruption Committee headquarters.
“Once we reach Yerevan, we will raise our voices, shout, and protect our mayor. Hold the bastions, people, or we will be overrun,” said Avetis Arakelyan, Gyumri’s first deputy mayor, in comments to reporters.
Hours after his detention, Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan is at the Anti-Corruption Committee; he denies the charges, and his legal status remains unclear.
A motion to apply detention as a preventive measure against Vardan Ghukasyan has been submitted to the court.
“The bulk of the material in the recordings pertains to December 2024 and February 2025. During that period, Vardan Ghukasyan was not serving as mayor. Only one of the six or seven episodes relates to Ghukasyan’s time in office,” the mayor’s lawyer told reporters regarding the published recordings.
