Arrest of Gyumri Mayor is step toward monopolization of power – Bogdan Bezpalko

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian political scientist Bogdan Bezpalko commented on the arrest of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan in Armenia.

According to the expert, the arrest of the Gyumri mayor is part of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s systematic campaign against the opposition.

“What could this mean for domestic and foreign policy? For domestic policy, this means the impossibility of voting for any alternative politicians or relying on them in the future. For foreign policy, this means that any international party will be forced to deal exclusively with Pashinyan. Any negotiations—whether related to defense, financial matters, or economic cooperation—will take place solely with Nikol Pashinyan.

“In essence, this could be called a monopolization of power, in which the opposition is systematically ousted from the political arena. The field is sterilized, scorched, and left only with Pashinyan’s supporters or those who pose no threat to him. I believe these are preventative measures—measures that will ensure his monopoly on power, a monopoly on information, a monopoly, in principle, in all respects of what is commonly called political power,” Bezpalko said.