The Region in Brief

Armenia

The Artsakh mayors of Stepanakert and Martakert, David Sargsyan and Misha Gyurgyan, respectively, were arrested and indicted in Yerevan following their support for ongoing street protests against PM Nikol Pashinyan. Armenia’s Investigative Committee has charged them with fraud and forgery. Both mayors were remanded in custody by Yerevan courts on Sunday and Monday, respectively. Hayk Shamiryam, the former mayor of Askeran, has also been charged and placed under house arrest. All three mayors deny the accusations, which former Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan has dismissed as politically motivated. Beglaryan accused Pashinyan’s government of attempting to intimidate and punish Artsakh Armenians supporting “Tavush for the Homeland.”