A Member of the City Council and a Relative of a Ruling Party Deputy Arrested

Two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of drug possession and use: Varuj Khodjumyan, the nephew of the ruling My Step Alliance deputy Karen Sarukhanyan, and his friend, Bargev Gevorgyan, a member of the My Step faction in the Gyumri City Council, as reported by Oragir.News.

Varuj Khodjumyan, who is employed as an economic staff member in the pediatric department of Gyumri Medical Center, is also a member of the regional organization council in Gyumri.

Charges have been brought against Manvel Khodjumyan, the uncle of Karen Sarukhanyan, who previously held the position of deputy principal at Byurakn Secondary School, for illegally acquiring and possessing a significant amount of drugs - 6.64 grams of marijuana - and for interfering with the actions of investigators for the purpose of obstructing a comprehensive and objective investigation.

Manvel Khodjumyan, the deputy principal and physical education teacher at Byurakn School, was dismissed from his position by Director Lusine Melikyan on March 20, 2018, due to allegations of drug addiction.

It is also known that the other arrested My Step member had only recently become a member of the city council three months ago and works in the National Assembly.

It was reported that the authorities have prematurely and simultaneously terminated the powers of five members of the Gyumri City Council from the My Step faction.

Auroranews spoke with the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Narek Sargsyan, who confirmed, “Two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of drug possession and use and have been presented to the investigative committee.”