Pashinyan: Authorities  implementing  mandate of Gyumri residents to  hold snap elections

ArmInfo.  Gyumri residents have clearly expressed their support for holding early local  government elections through their recent votes. This was stated by  Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on June 17 during the  government's Q&A session in the National Assembly, in response to  questions from deputies.

"The majority of Gyumri residents have said 'yes' to this agenda, and  it is our political obligation to implement it," he emphasized.

The Prime Minister noted that discussions are currently underway and  specific scenarios are being developed to guide the ruling party.  Pashinyan did not provide a specific timeline for the elections,  noting that the processes of forming the new parliament and  government must take precedence.

Recall, Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan was arrested in October 2025 on  corruption charges. The Anti- Corruption Committee announced that  Ghukasyan and seven others are accused of extortion and bribery,  including accepting 4 million drams ($10,000) for the legalization of  an illegally constructed building in the city. According to the  investigation, Ghukasyan and the city's chief architect allegedly  demanded money from a local resident in exchange for reclassifying a  1,500-square-meter illegal structure as legal, promising to falsify  official documents to show it had been demolished and rebuilt.

In early June of this year, another criminal case was launched  against Ghukasyan under Part 1 of Article 43-419 of the Criminal Code  of the Republic of Armenia (preparation for the seizure of power).