Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that early elections should be held in Gyumri as soon as possible, commenting on the condition of the city’s neighborhoods and courtyards.

“To be honest, what I saw in Gyumri’s neighborhoods was unexpected for me and, in some ways, shocking. I could not imagine that in a country where I am the prime minister, there could be courtyards and streets in such a condition, particularly in the Fifty-Eighth District. They present a disgraceful picture,” Pashinyan said, according to Radar Armenia.

According to the prime minister, rapid measures should be implemented even before early elections are called, if necessary bypassing local self-government bodies in order to address urgent issues.

Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan has been in custody since October 2025. He denies the charges against him and describes the case as politically motivated.