Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said Yerevan does not rule out taking its dispute with Russia over the management of the South Caucasus Railway to an international court if the issue cannot be resolved through negotiations. At the same time, he stressed that the Armenian authorities hope to settle the matter through talks.
Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan's pretrial detention has been extended by another three months. The prosecutor's office insisted there is a significant risk that Ghukasyan will commit new crimes if released.
Concerns regarding Ghukasyan's potential pressure on witnesses and other individuals involved in the corruption case were also raised at the court hearing.
Ghukasyan denies the accusations of bribery. The defense emphasized that most of the incidents in the case relate to the period when he was not mayor – from December 2024 to February 2025. Furthermore, another criminal case was opened against Ghukasyan for his statements about the need for a union with Russia, which the investigation qualified as undermining Armenia's sovereignty.
Earlier, the court also granted the investigation's motion to remand Spartak Ghukasyan, son of Gyumri Mayor, for two months. He is accused of hooliganism committed by a group of individuals using information or communications technology.