New Charges Filed Against Spartak Ghukasyan and Officials of the Gyumri Municipality

New charges have been filed against Spartak Ghukasyan, the son of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, as well as against Karapet Ghukasyan, assistant to the first deputy mayor of Gyumri, Avetis Arakelyan, the first deputy mayor of Gyumri, and Artyom Mkrtchyan, head of the utilities department of the Gyumri municipal service. This was reported by News.am.

“Spartak Ghukasyan has been charged with organizing and leading a group to interfere with the legal service activities of officials through the damage and destruction of property of an official with the intent of using violence against that official, and has organized and led massive public disorder threatening public safety, accompanied by violence, damaging and destroying property. He has been charged under parts 2 and 3 of Article 46-452 and part 1 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code, which pertain to interference in the legal service or political activities of an official and participation in mass disorder,” the report states.

Karapet Ghukasyan has been charged with exceeding his official authority as part of a group, committing acts beyond his authority that resulted in significant damage to individuals, organizations, rights, freedoms, legal interests, and the legitimate interests of society, as well as organizing and leading massive public disorder threatening public safety, accompanied by violence, damaging and destroying property. He faces charges under parts 2 and 3 of Article 46-452, part 1 of Article 327, and part 2 of point 4 of Article 441 of the Criminal Code.

Avetis Arakelyan is also facing similar charges, as he is accused of exceeding his powers as part of a group, causing substantial damage to individuals, organizations, rights, and society's legitimate interests while organizing and leading public disorder that threatens public safety. The charges against him align with the same articles in the Criminal Code.

Artyom Mkrtchyan has been charged under part 2 of point 4 of Article 441 and part 1 of Article 327 for similar acts of violence and leading public disorder.

The case was submitted to the court on January 21 and has been assigned to Judge Sargis Dadayan of the Anti-Corruption Court, specializing in corruption cases. The first court hearing is scheduled to take place today, February 2.

It is worth reminding that on October 20, 2025, law enforcement surrounded the Gyumri Municipality with a large number of police officers. They forcibly removed Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan from the municipality and detained him amidst significant pressure. Supporters of Ghukasyan gathered around the municipality to prevent law enforcement from taking him away. Following the incident, dozens of individuals were arrested and detained.