Eight individuals, including Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan and the city’s chief architect, have been arrested in connection with a corruption case involving bribe demands and acceptance, the Anti-Corruption Committee reported.
According to the statement, the arrests followed extensive operational and investigative actions, during which evidence was obtained confirming that the mayor and chief architect colluded to extort a bribe in exchange for legalizing an unauthorized building.
Investigators found that the officials learned of a 1,500 square meter illegal structure built on Garegin Nzhdeh Street, which was subject to demolition. Instead of enforcing the law, they allegedly reached an agreement with the owner to avoid demolition, prepare falsified documents stating the structure had been rebuilt, and legalize it in exchange for a bribe of four million AMD (about $10,000).
The chief architect allegedly met the property owner multiple times, discussing the bribery arrangement, which was structured in phased payments—“action-payment-action-payment”—ultimately securing a promise of full payment.
Additionally, the officials allegedly targeted opposition members of the city council, collecting compromising information to coerce them into compliance through blackmail.
Further allegations include the mayor abusing his authority to facilitate the privatization of municipal land and the legalization of an unauthorized structure owned by a relative, using falsified documents.
The chief architect is also accused of accepting bribes in six other cases for similar illegal actions.
The investigation continues, with authorities aiming to fully uncover the structure and operation of the corruption scheme and identify all individuals involved.
Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Committee confirmed it had launched investigative actions at Gyumri City Hall and that Mayor Ghukasyan had been isolated in his office during the operation.
