According to the investigation, the mayor and chief architect of the city demanded a bribe of 4 million drams (about $10.5 thousand) for the legalization of a 1,500 m² building illegally built by a close relative of Ghukasyan.
The building was to be demolished, but government officials allegedly promised to draw up false documents stating that the building had been demolished and rebuilt.
During the investigation, evidence also emerged that the defendants in the case deliberately tracked down unwanted members of the Gyumri Public Council in order to blackmail them.
The Moscow Times noted that in April, Ghukasyan, who represented the Communist Party, was elected mayor of Gyumri, where the Russian military base is located, for the second time, and he called for the creation of a union state with the Russian Federation “following the example of Russia and Belarus.” He argued that such “integration” would be the “salvation of Armenia.”
Context
Armenia was an ally of Russia before the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Yerevan expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of support from Moscow during the Armenian-Azerbaijani military conflict.
After the end of the conflict, Armenia distanced itself from the Russian Federation.
