Russia calls Gyumri mayor's arrest internal affair of Armenia

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has commented on the arrest of Gyumri’s opposition mayor Vardan Ghukasyan and his supporters, describing the situation as “an internal matter of Armenia.”

Zakharova noted that Moscow is closely monitoring developments, given that Gyumri hosts Russia’s 102nd military base, as well as the Russian Consulate General and a Rossotrudnichestvo office, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“The settlement of the situation is particularly relevant these days, as Armenia is entering a new electoral cycle,” Zakharova added.

The remarks follow the October 20 detention of Ghukasyan and seven others, including the city's chief architect, on bribery charges related to an illegal 1,500 m² construction on Garegin Nzhdeh Street, which sparked protests and 33 additional arrests for "mass disorder." Ghukasyan's arrest, seen by opponents as politically motivated ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections, has heightened tensions between Pashinyan's pro-Western government and pro-Russian elements.

By Khagan Isayev