Masked Forces Raid Gyumri City Hall and Arrest Opposition Mayor, Protests Erupt

In Armenia’s second-largest city early Monday masked special forces entered Gyumri City Hall, detaining opposition mayor Vardan Ghukasyan and several other officials. The operation, carried out under the direction of the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC), has sparked widespread outrage among residents and opposition groups, who denounce the move as a political crackdown by the Pashinyan government.

Witnesses reported that police and masked security units surrounded and entered the building in the early morning hours. Employees were barred from entering or exiting the premises, and the mayor’s office was quickly sealed off. According to staff, they received no official explanation for the raid, with security forces remaining stationed inside throughout the day.

Outside, the scene grew chaotic. Dozens of citizens gathered in front of the city hall, shouting “shame” and demanding to see their mayor. Some attempted to enter the building but were blocked by police, resulting in scuffles and minor clashes. Two additional buses carrying police reinforcements later arrived, deepening public anger and raising concerns over the government’s heavy-handed tactics.

The arrest comes less than three weeks after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly vowed to “throw out” Vardan Ghukasyan from Armenia’s political life. Ghukasyan, who leads an opposition-controlled city administration, had recently accused the government of persecuting him and his family.

In an earlier address to voters, the mayor declared, “I will hold my ground until the end, I will not break, without a doubt — you know my character. The more they do such things, the bolder we will become.”

Political observers say the timing of the raid—so soon after Pashinyan’s remarks—raises serious questions about the independence of Armenia’s law enforcement bodies. The move follows a familiar pattern seen in other Armenian cities where opposition figures have been prosecuted after defeating the ruling Civil Contract party in local elections.

In Gyumri, Ghukasyan came to power in April after a coalition of four opposition forces united to defeat Civil Contract in the March 30 municipal election. His arrest is being viewed by many as an attempt by the government to reverse that result.

Hours after the operation began, the Anti-Corruption Committee issued a statement confirming that eight city hall employees, including the mayor and the city’s chief architect, had been detained on charges of bribery and extortion.

According to the ACC, investigators claim that the officials demanded a 4 million dram (about $10,400) bribe from a property owner in exchange for not demolishing an unauthorized building and helping to legalize it. The committee also alleged that Ghukasyan and his associates had engaged in falsifying documents, blackmailing city council members, and abusing municipal authority.

The committee stated that investigations are ongoing to “fully uncover the structure and mechanisms of the corruption scheme,” but provided no additional evidence to support the allegations.

Opposition figures in Yerevan immediately condemned the arrests, calling them politically motivated. They argue that the charges are designed to silence one of the most vocal critics of the government’s recent policies, particularly Ghukasyan’s calls for restoring closer relations with Russia.

As police attempted to detain the mayor, a tense standoff developed inside the building. Dozens of staffers and residents refused to let law enforcement take him away. According to reports, Ghukasyan eventually agreed to cooperate, telling his supporters to “stay strong and united.”

Shortly afterward, masked agents reportedly broke glass at a rear entrance to take him from the building. Witnesses said he appeared calm and even smiling as he was rushed into a waiting vehicle. His lawyer later confirmed that the mayor had been transferred to Yerevan by the Anti-Corruption Committee for interrogation.

Later in the day, the Investigative Committee of Armenia announced that it had launched a separate criminal case over “mass riots and obstruction of justice” related to the Gyumri protests. The committee claimed that demonstrators engaged in violent acts, damaged property, and interfered with police officers.

The new case accuses participants under Articles 327, 452, and 486 of the Criminal Code, relating to participation in mass riots, interference with official activity, and obstruction of justice. Authorities warned that anyone interfering with law enforcement operations could face criminal penalties.

Many opposition groups accuse the Pashinyan government of systematically dismantling local self-governance by using corruption charges as a tool against elected opponents.

The same pattern was seen in Vanadzor, Armenia’s third-largest city, where opposition mayor Mamikon Aslanian was arrested in 2021 after his bloc defeated Civil Contract in local elections. Aslanian was later sentenced to prison on corruption charges that he denied, calling the case politically motivated.

This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.

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