Armenia detains alleged "mayors" of formerly occupied Azerbaijani towns

Armenian authorities have recently apprehended individuals claiming to be the administrators of formerly occupied Azerbaijani territories.

In Armenia, Misha Gyurjyan, the former self-proclaimed "mayor" of Aghdara in Karabakh, was arrested during the night, Caliber.Az reports citing Armenian media.

The detention was disclosed by human rights activist Ruben Melikyan on social media.

Earlier on May 23, Hayk Shamiryan, the former so-called "mayor" of Askeran in Karabakh, was detained in Yerevan. Following a search of Shamiryan's residence, he was taken into custody. Subsequently, on May 24, he was placed under house arrest.

The specific charges against them have not been disclosed, although law enforcement officials allegedly mentioned financial irregularities as the basis for their actions, according to human rights activist Ruben Melikyan.

The lawyer recalled that Shamiryan had previously met with Bagrat Galstanyan, a leader of a movement advocating for the reclaiming of lost territories, along with other figures from the former Karabakh administration.