Gyumri Mayor arrested for two months

ArmInfo. By the decision of Anti-Corruption Court Judge Vardges Sargsyan, Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, accused of bribery, has been arrested for two months. His lawyer, Zaruhi Postanjyan, told reporters after the court's verdict was announced that there was no need for his arrest.

She also noted that the court hearing was artificially delayed, and  the recordings presented were interpreted in a manner favorable to  the prosecution. She also pointed out that the written conversations  he presented from the recordings contained no explanation of how they  were obtained, which, in her opinion, is also a serious violation.  "There wasn't even a court order to justify the wiretapping. However,  during the hearing, it became clear that this secret wiretapping  began just days after Vardan Ghukasyan's election, and this decision  was made by the court," the lawyer added. She also mentioned that  from the moment of his arrest, that is, for over 24 hours, Ghukasyan  was not provided with food, despite his diabetes. 

"The mayor  was also unable to use hygiene products or change  clothes. All of this indicates cruelty. He was treated inhumanely,"  Postanjyan emphasized. The lawyer explained that the bribery charges  were related to the mayor's architect, who committed certain actions  place during Sarik Minasyan's term in office, not Vardan Ghukasyan's.  "In fact, they took (the ruling Civil Contract party's representative  in the Gyumri mayoral elections - ed.). However, the case was  presented as if Ghukasyan had been involved in these processes from  the moment of his election," the lawyer clarified. She also reported  that Vardan Ghukasyan's visits are currently restricted to only  seeing his family members.