David Khudatyan on the Verdict of Masis Mayor and Political Persecutions

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, David Khudatyan, addressed the six-year and three-month prison sentence of Masis Mayor David Hambardzumyan during a conversation with journalists in the National Assembly on October 28. He emphasized that the verdict does not have a political context.

According to Khudatyan, the case was examined within the framework of the law, and based on his information, the verdict was issued on the basis of a criminal case. “There was a criminal case initiated, and when the judgment becomes legally valid, it is a process defined by law. No, this is not political persecution; at the very least, numerous facts testify to that,” the minister stated.

He also addressed concerns regarding the government's use of administrative resources in the upcoming elections in Vagharschapat, emphasizing that many of the ministry's largest projects are also being implemented in opposition communities. “If I list them, it might turn out that at least half of them are within that logic,” Khudatyan noted.

Speaking about the elections in Vagharschapat, the minister added that the Civil Contract party has no reason to be concerned. “The Civil Contract received the majority vote in those communities in 2021 and is heading into the 2026 elections to ensure even better results. The assessment should be given by the citizens,” he stated.