Armenian Vice-Speaker criticises arrested Gyumri mayor, blames former leaders

Ruben Rubinyan, Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament and board member of the ruling Civil Contract party, has commented on the law enforcement operation at Gyumri City Hall and the arrest of controversial opposition mayor Vardan Ghukasyan.

“Six months and one day. According to the Anti-Corruption Committee, that’s exactly how long it took for him to return to his favorite pastime — bribery — and get caught! Political responsibility lies with those who made him mayor — Kocharyan, Sargsyan, Vanetsyan, Dashnaktsutyun, etc. Also responsible is the one who blessed him — Ktrich Nersisyan, with his archbishops thirsty for usurpation of power," Rubinyan wrote in a post on Facebook, Caliber.Az reports.

He added: "And they want to do the same in 2026, on a national scale, to return and resume their plundering. We will not allow it!”

On October 20, the Anti-Corruption Committee confirmed that Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan and other city officials have been arrested on corruption-related charges.In a statement following the arrest at Gyumri City Hall, the law enforcement agency said it had gathered evidence during an investigation into alleged graft indicating that Ghukasyan and the city’s chief architect were engaged in bribery.

A total of eight individuals, including the mayor, have been arrested and are facing charges.Ghukasyan and the chief architect allegedly conspired to demand a bribe of 4 million drams from a local resident in exchange for falsifying documents and preventing the demolition of his unlawfully constructed building in Gyumri.The chief architect then allegedly held several meetings with the developer of the construction project to arrange the bribe.

By Khagan Isayev