Hoveyan brothers to be released in Gyumri unrest case

PanARMENIAN.Net - Karen and Karush Hoveyan, who were detained in connection with the October 20 unrest outside the Gyumri Municipality, will be released after the court rejected motions to extend their pre-trial detention. Their lawyer, Arsen Babayan, announced the decision on Facebook.

“The court hearings on motions to extend the detention of my two clients have concluded. The motions were rejected,” Babayan wrote. He noted that hearings were held under Judges Sargis Petrosyan and Sargis Dadoyan in the Anti-Corruption Court over two consecutive days.

“I can confidently say that in both sessions, the law prevailed over politics. The brothers will be released on December 20,” the lawyer added.

On October 20, law enforcement entered the Gyumri Municipality to detain community leader Vardan Ghukasyan. The Anti-Corruption Committee later announced that eight individuals were arrested on charges of accepting and offering large-scale bribes involving several officials.

Hours later, Ghukasyan exited the building voluntarily and approached a police vehicle, at which point a clash broke out between law enforcement and his supporters. Multiple arrests followed. On October 30, authorities announced that 43 people had been implicated in the case: 26 were jailed, 15 were placed under house arrest, and one was put under administrative supervision.