“Listen to me, everything will be fine. We are following the letter of the law,” said Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan today, October 20, at the Gyumri City Hall.

He was removed from the city hall building, where numerous employees had gathered, trying to prevent his arrest.

Earlier, NEWS.am reported that law enforcement officers entered the Gyumri City Hall early in the morning. Masked special forces blocked the entry and exit of city hall staff. Citizens gathered in front of the building, and a large number of police forces were deployed. The situation was tense, and at one point, a scuffle broke out between the police and the gathered citizens.

Inside the city hall, the situation was also tense. Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan was isolated, with armed police standing near the door. Employees attempted to enter and prevent his arrest.

A police column from Yerevan was dispatched to Gyumri.

Later, the Anti-Corruption Committee released a statement noting that eight city hall employees, including the mayor, were arrested on charges of giving and receiving bribes.