The defense claimed that the relatives of the Gyumri mayor were intimidated.

Security forces conducted a search of the family of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan. The search was aimed at finding the politician's cell phone, but the officers confiscated the phones of his wife, daughter, and granddaughters and threatened to return.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on October 20, mass riots occurred in Gyumri during a rally in support of Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan. At least 23 people were detained. On September 11, security forces reported that Spartak Ghukasyan, the son of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, was detained on suspicion of extortion. Vardan Ghukasyan criticized the extortion theory and claimed the case was politically motivated, designed to "settle scores" with him. On September 12, the Shirak Regional Court placed Spartak Ghukasyan under house arrest for two months. On November 20, Ghukasyan was detained on charges of hooliganism and arrested.

Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan's lawyer, Zaruhi Postanjyan, filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office and the Human Rights Defender regarding politically motivated intimidation of the politician's relatives, News.Am reports.

"Today, December 6, 2025, at approximately 12:00 p.m., based on a decision by RA Anti-Corruption Court Judge Meri Musinyan, a group of individuals entered the apartment of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan to conduct a search," she reported. According to her, the security forces were looking for the politician's phone, and this same purpose for the search was recorded in the warrant.

The searchers demanded that Vardan Ghukasyan's family members place their personal mobile phones on the table so they could register them, check them against the mobile phone number and the phone being searched, and then return them. The demand was complied with. However, the security forces confiscated the mobile phones of Vardan Ghukasyan's wife, daughter, and two granddaughters.

Vardan Ghukasyan's wife, Nona Ghukasyan, told the burglars that her mobile phone was connected to her home security system, and therefore its seizure posed a serious security threat to her home and was vital to her safety. Other family members also tried to explain that their mobile phones contained important information necessary for their work and studies. However, the security forces did not respond to her words and threatened to return for a new search.

The lawyer demanded an investigation into violations of the Armenian Criminal Code's articles on discrimination, violation of personal and family privacy, and theft of entrusted property, the publication states.