Pro-Russian Mayor in Armenia Hospitalized After Arrest
Arrested Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan has been hospitalized due to a sharp deterioration in his health. According to his lawyer, Zaruhi Postanjyan, Ghukasyan fell ill in pretrial detention and was taken to the Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center. According to preliminary reports, he has been diagnosed with diabetes. There were earlier reports of nutritional problems following his arrest.
Ghukasyan was arrested on charges of bribery, followed by a new charge of "public calls to renounce Armenia's sovereignty." The mayor's defense team believes the charges are politically motivated, citing his statements in favor of a union with Russia while preserving Armenia's sovereignty.
The number of defendants in the case of the mass riots that occurred in Gyumri on October 20 in protest against the arrest of Ghukasyan has reached 43. Currently, 26 people are in custody, 15 are under house arrest, and one is under administrative supervision.
