The court upheld the sentence against Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan and Fatherland Party Secretary General Khachik Galstyan

ArmInfo. Khachik Galstyan, Secretary General of the Fatherland Party, will remain in custody. A similar decision was made regarding Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan.

As Galstyan's lawyer, Arsen Babayan, reported on social media, the Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the Anti-Corruption Court of First Instance.

In Ghukasyan's case, the Anti-Corruption Court did not consider the stated health problems grounds for release or mitigation of the preventive measure.

As a reminder, Khachik Galstyan's home was searched on December 29, 2025, after which he was detained. By a court decision on December 30, Galstyan was remanded in custody for two months. He is accused of paying electoral bribes during the Vagharshapat Council of Elders elections, which took place on November 16, 2025.

Vardan Ghukasyan was arrested on October 21, 2025, in connection with a bribery case. On October 26, his lawyers announced a new case against him for "public calls to renounce Armenia's sovereignty" in connection with his statements about a union with Russia and Belarus. On November 21, it was announced that Vardan Ghukasyan had been charged with a third offense under Article 297 of the country's Criminal Code (hooliganism committed by a group of persons using information or communication technologies—the maximum penalty is up to five years in prison). On December 17, 2025, the court extended Vardan Ghukasyan's pretrial detention for another three months. On January 1, 2026, lawyer Zaruhi Postanjyan published a notice from the investigator stating that the prosecution of Gyumri Mayor Vardan for calling for the renunciation of sovereignty was unfounded. According to the notice, Ghukasyan's actions were found to be free of criminal charges, and therefore the criminal proceedings are to be terminated.

In early January 2026, Ghukasyan was hospitalized for the necessary medical examination. According to his lawyer, Zaruhi Postanjyan, Ghukasyan's severe diabetes will negatively impact his kidney function while in custody. He also has cardiovascular problems.