“I was notified by the Anti‑Corruption Committee that Vardan Ghukasyan is here; I came to review the case materials,” said Ghukasyan’s lawyer, Aramayis Hayrapetyan, outside the Anti‑Corruption Committee on October 20.

Asked whether he had heard the wiretapped recording released by the Anti‑Corruption Committee and whether the voice on it was indeed Ghukasyan’s or implied that he took bribes, the lawyer replied: “Mr. Ghukasyan denies everything and accepts no such circumstances. Moreover, part of the material referenced dates from December 2024 and February 2025. In 2024 Ghukasyan was not the community head, nor in February 2025. Ask the acting municipal head from the ruling party why such things occurred. Only one of the six or seven incidents relates to Ghukasyan’s time in office.”

Regarding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s earlier statements about Ghukasyan, the lawyer said: “A few days ago I pointed out that a process has begun of turning the prime minister’s podium statements into reality — namely, removing Vardan Ghukasyan from the political and public arena. Removing someone politically by such methods is possible, and removing them from the public arena can be done by physically destroying them. We filed a criminal complaint about this with investigative bodies, but it was deemed not subject to further consideration.”

The defense lawyer predicted that a custody (pre‑trial detention) motion would likely be filed.

Earlier reports said law enforcement officers entered Gyumri City Hall early in the morning. Masked special forces blocked staff entrances and exits, and citizens gathered outside the building; police detained several people. In a special operation, masked officers quickly arrested Mayor Ghukasyan from the rear entrance and took him by car to Yerevan, where he was transferred to the Anti‑Corruption Committee.

Later the Anti‑Corruption Committee announced that eight City Hall employees, including Mayor Ghukasyan, had been arrested on charges of giving and receiving bribes. Among those detained was the city’s chief architect, Henrik Gasparyan. The committee’s statement included a wiretapped recording of a conversation between the mayor and the chief architect.

For context: on October 1 in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, “For six months now Gyumri has been governed by a clan whose leader — known to many as ‘Vardanik,’ or, according to the charges, the father of someone who stole municipal brush cutters — has allowed himself statements that have recently publicly questioned Armenia’s sovereignty. Those who make statements against the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia must be removed from the political and public arena.”