Thirteen participants in a rally in support of the mayor of Gyumri have been arrested.

Among those arrested are Gyumri Council of Elders member Gevork Ghukasyan and lawyer Ruben Mkhitaryan; they have been remanded in custody for two months.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," a Yerevan court has remanded Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan in custody for two months on charges of bribery. The opposition politician denied the charges, and his lawyer called the case fabricated. The searches at City Hall were accompanied by a protest by city residents. Following this protest, the Investigative Committee of Armenia opened a criminal case for mass riots and obstruction of justice.

An Armenian court has arrested 13 participants in the protest in support of opposition Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan. Another protester is a minor. "House arrest and a travel ban have been imposed on the minor involved in this case," Newss.am quotes the Investigative Committee as saying.

Earlier reports indicated the arrest of lawyer Ruben Mkhitaryan, a member of the "Po-Nashemu" movement, and Gevorg Ghukasyan, a member of the Communist Party of Armenia faction in the Gyumri Council of Elders.

Among those arrested is lawyer Ruben Mkhitaryan, a member of businessman Samvel Karapetyan's "Po-Svoemu" movement. He has been remanded in custody for two months. According to the movement, the lawyer was at the scene of the protest. Gevorg Ghukasyan, a member of the Gyumri Council of Elders from the Communist Party and the great-nephew of Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, was also arrested for the same period, Sputnik Armenia reports.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan denied any involvement in Vardan Ghukasyan's arrest. "They say Vardan Ghukasyan was detained because of his thoughts and actions. What does this have to do with my thoughts? My thoughts can be used against me. How can my thoughts be used against others?" TASS quotes Pashinyan as saying in response to a question on the matter during government hour in the Armenian parliament.