Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan was swiftly taken away by car from the police back entrance — he came out smiling

Masked security forces carried out a special operation a short while ago, swiftly taking away Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan by car through the back entrance of the city hall. The officers also broke several windows.

As Vardan Ghukasyan was being rushed toward the car, he was smiling.

Earlier, NEWS.am reported that law enforcement officers entered Gyumri City Hall early in the morning.

The masked special forces blocked the exits and entrances of the building. Citizens have gathered in front of the city hall, where a large number of police forces have been deployed, and their numbers continue to grow. The situation remains tense. At one point, a scuffle broke out between the police and the gathered citizens.

Tensions are also high inside the city hall. Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan was isolated, with armed police officers standing guard at his door. Employees tried to enter the office to prevent the mayor’s arrest. A short while ago, Ghukasyan came out of his office and urged everyone to remain calm, saying that everything would now proceed according to the law and that they would see what happens next.

It is noted that a police convoy has departed from Yerevan toward Gyumri.

Later, the Anti-Corruption Committee released a statement reporting that eight city hall employees, including Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, had been arrested on charges of accepting and giving bribes.

Among those detained is also the city’s chief architect, Henrik Gasparyan. The statement from the Anti-Corruption Committee included a wiretapped audio recording of a conversation between the mayor and the chief architect.