Vahagn Vermishyan Declares Hunger Strike

The former head of the Armenian Urban Development Committee, Vahagn Vermishyan, has declared a hunger strike while in custody. This was confirmed in a conversation with Tert.am by Vermishyan's lawyer, Mushegh Arakelyan.

The lawyer did not provide further details, but media reports indicate that Vermishyan is on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Vermishyan was first arrested and then detained earlier this year in February on suspicion of receiving large-scale bribes. According to a statement from the National Security Service (NSS), there was evidence that Vermishyan, in agreement with individuals engaged in construction work or representatives of development companies, received large sums or material values ranging from 1 million to 2.5 million drams in bribes on five occasions, both personally and through a close associate. In return, he facilitated actions or expedited favorable decisions for them last year.