The Fate of the Slain Parakara Mayor Threatens Other Opposition Mayors: Gumri Council's Communist Party Faction

The Communist Party faction of the Gumri Council has reached out to the ambassadors accredited in Armenia to inform them about the events taking place in the mayor's office. This was stated in a video message released by Lilit Aghekian, advisor to Gumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan.

It was previously reported that law enforcement officials raided the Gumri city hall in the morning, attempting to detain Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, who had isolated himself in his office. According to the Anti-Corruption Committee, eight individuals have been arrested on charges of receiving large bribes from a group of officials.

“Dear ambassadors, in recent days, the authorities of Armenia have been implementing a political vendetta and persecution against the Mayor of Gumri more systematically through various political and forceful means. The political persecution intensified following the public statement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding the political oppression and coercion of the Mayor of Gumri,” the party's statement reads.

The Communist Party noted that Pashinyan has launched a campaign and persecution against the Armenian Apostolic Church, as well as the imprisonment of individuals expressing dissent against Pashinyan's policies. “This is a campaign against freedom of thought and speech under the guise of democracy. Recently, the fate of the slain Parakara mayor poses a threat and serves as a signal for other remaining opposition mayors. We want to inform you about these ongoing and escalating repressions,” they report from the Communist Party.

The Communist Party urges all factions in the Gumri Council and members of the National Assembly to join this statement.

It is worth noting that the city of Gumri is currently paralyzed; transportation and traffic have come to a standstill.