Armenian mayor, police officer killed in Merdzavan shooting

A late-night shooting in Merdzavan, Armavir Province, left two people dead, including a sitting opposition mayor and an off-duty police officer, and another injured, authorities confirmed.

The victims were Parakar Mayor Volodya Grigoryan and Karen Abrahamyan, an officer with the Ararat Criminal Police Department. Abrahamyan, who was off duty at the time, was accompanying Grigoryan, with whom he shared a close friendship, Interior Ministry spokesman Narek Sargsyan told reporters on Wednesday.

The attack occurred on Yerevanyan Highway in Merdzavan shortly before midnight. No other details were immediately available.