Five Gyumri officials detained in corruption probe

Five of eight municipal officials arrested in Armenia’s second-largest city, Gyumri, have been remanded in custody as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, the country’s Anti-Corruption Committee reported on Tuesday.

The officials, including Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, are accused of accepting large bribes and abusing their office in coordination with others. The court has ordered a two-month pretrial detention for Ghukasyan, while one alleged bribe-giver has been placed under house arrest. Proceedings continue for the remaining suspects.

Authorities have also suspended several officials from their duties, pending the outcome of the investigation.

In response to media reports suggesting that leaked audio recordings involving the mayor were fabricated, the Anti-Corruption Committee stated that Ghukasyan neither confirmed nor denied his involvement in the conversations, but did not claim the recordings were falsified. Several witnesses are said to have confessed, corroborating evidence collected during investigation.

The probe is underway.