Jailed Gyumri mayor accused of assaulting court bailiff

Authorities have brought additional criminal charges against the Mayor of Gyumri, Vardan Ghukasyan, who is currently held in pre-trial detention. 

Mayor Ghukasyan has been in pre-trial detention since October 2025 on bribery charges, which he denies. The city has been governed by an acting mayor ever since, as Ghukasyan’s powers were suspended amid the probe.

He is also accused of plotting a coup.

The new charges stem from Ghukasyan’s alleged actions during a court hearing on May 27 this year.

The Investigative Committee said in a press release that after the May 27 court hearing, Ghukasyan refused to comply with the bailiffs’ order to be taken to a holding cell in an attempt to speak to journalists, and allegedly resorted to violence and assaulted the officer on duty.

He has been charged with obstructing an on-duty official.