Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Davit Khudatyan, commented on the arrest of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan in a Facebook post, suggesting the mayor aimed to restore corrupt practices from the Kocharian era.
“This is the real reason Vardanik tried to get into Gyumri City Hall after losing the elections—to revive the Kocharian-era corruption that he so fondly remembers from 20 years ago,” Khudatyan wrote.
“It won’t work.” he added, implying that justice and state power will prevail.
According to the Anti-Corruption Committee, multiple officials at Gyumri Municipality are accused of receiving and giving large-scale bribes. Eight individuals have been detained, including the mayor and the city’s chief architect.
