During the October 21 parliamentary session, Hayk Konjoryan, leader of the ruling Civil Contract faction, delivered a strongly worded address targeting the opposition. He stated that they carry political responsibility for the actions of Gyumri mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, who was recently arrested on corruption charges.
“You bear direct political responsibility for Vardanik’s actions. This hunger for looting and greed is something you cannot detach from yourselves. As for condemnation — of course you won’t condemn him. If a court verdict is issued, you’ll claim the trial wasn’t fair. If that’s disproven, you’ll say the defendant had a stomachache that day. And when even that excuse fails, you’ll claim the judge’s robe wasn’t to your liking,” Konjoryan said, according to 1lurer.am.
He argued that the opposition’s past support for Ghukasyan’s rise to power makes them co-responsible for his current behavior.
“It’s clear you won’t condemn him — how could you condemn yourselves? If you were going to, you would’ve done so already. You played a direct role in bringing Vardanik to power in Gyumri, and you bear direct responsibility for that. His actions are now directly associated with yours, and your speeches prove it. Please don’t try to distance yourself from something that’s part of you,” he concluded.
Ghukasyan has been detained for two months. On October 20, law enforcement conducted searches in the Gyumri mayor’s office. The Anti-Corruption Committee reported that eight officials, including the mayor, were arrested on charges of giving and receiving large-scale bribes. A separate criminal case has also been initiated over mass unrest and obstruction of justice in Gyumri.
