Suspended Gyumri mayor’s house arrest extended by three months

The house arrest of suspended Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan has been extended for another three months.

Ghukasyan was released from pretrial detention on July 17 after the court replaced it with house arrest and set bail at 15 million drams.

On October 13, the court granted the prosecutors’ motion to extend his house arrest.

Ghukasyan’s defense attorneys had asked the court to place him under administrative supervision instead, but the court decided to maintain his house arrest.

Ghukasyan is accused of receiving a large bribe. According to law enforcement authorities, several months after taking office, he demanded 4 million drams from businessman Sevak Gomtsyan to legalize an illegally constructed building.

Ghukasyan is also accused of abuse of official position and money laundering. That case relates to his previous term in office in the 2000s.

Proceedings are also underway to confiscate assets allegedly acquired illegally by Ghukasyan.

Recently, he was acquitted in a separate hooliganism case.

The city has been governed by an acting mayor since the criminal investigation began last year, when Ghukasyan’s powers were suspended.

Ghukasyan has denied wrongdoing.