23 people were detained at a rally in support of the mayor of Gyumri.

Snap elections to the Gyumri Council of Elders were held on March 30. The ruling Civil Contract party won the elections, but its votes were not enough to ensure that the party's candidate, Sarik Minasyan, became mayor. Communist Vardan Ghukasyan received the opportunity to take the post. He took office on April 19. On September 11, security forces reported that Spartak Ghukasyan, son of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, had been detained on suspicion of extortion. Vardan Ghukasyan criticized the extortion theory and claimed the case was politically motivated and intended to "settle scores" with him.

In Gyumri, 23 people have been detained and taken to local police stations. Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan has also been detained and taken to the Anti-Corruption Committee. Lawyers and an ambulance have just arrived there. One of the lawyers, Aramayis Hayrapetyan, did not rule out the possibility that doctors were called for Ghukasyan because he had not had time to take his medication this morning and was feeling unwell, according to News.am.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has opened a criminal investigation into participation in mass riots. "A criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 327 (Participation in mass riots), Part 3 of Article 452 (Obstruction of the lawful official or political activity of an official), and Part 1 of Article 486 (Obstruction of the administration of justice or the consideration of a case) of the Criminal Code," the Investigative Committee of Armenia said in a statement.

The Gyumri Mayor's Office has declared an indefinite strike in connection with the detention of Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan. "We are leaving for Yerevan, the Mayor's Office is declaring an indefinite strike; it has the right to do so." He called Ghukasyan's detention unacceptable. "What kind of repression is this? Does this mean that anyone who utters a word of criticism is immediately taken into custody?" Deputy Mayor Avetis Arakelyan said in an interview with the publication's journalists.

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia is currently reviewing all circulating information regarding the situation in front of the Gyumri City Hall in order to ensure an appropriate response within its mandate, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan said in a statement, according to Novosti-Armenia.

"On October 20, the Office of the Human Rights Defender, based on media and social media monitoring, received information that the situation in front of the Gyumri City Hall remains extremely tense. Publications have appeared stating that disproportionate violence was allegedly used against citizens, and that a group of individuals were taken to the police station," Manasyan wrote on her Facebook page*.

The Human Rights Defender noted that, at her instruction, a representative of the Shirak Regional Office of the Ombudsman's Office is currently at the police station to review the situation regarding the rights of persons deprived of their liberty.

Furthermore, according to Manasyan, the monitoring revealed that due to the current situation, several kindergartens operating in the community are not functioning properly, which has impacted children's rights to preschool education, the publication writes.

The Gyumri Mayor's Office called on citizens not to succumb to provocations. "Despite the pressure and repressive actions against the mayor and city hall staff that took place today, the mayor's office will continue to operate as usual tomorrow," the publication quotes the mayor's office as saying.