Karen Simonyan’s Home Raided in Gyumri: Children’s Phones Confiscated in Election Bribery Probe
Gyumri, Shirak Province, Armenia, July 15, 2026 – Karen Simonyan, the head of the ‘Mother Armenia’ faction in the Gyumri City Council, reported that his home was searched by law enforcement officials, during which nothing incriminating was found, but the mobile phones of his three underage children were confiscated. Simonyan made these statements to journalists, noting, “They couldn’t leave empty-handed.”
The search, reportedly related to an election bribery case, took place yesterday. Simonyan emphasized that he currently holds no official status in the ongoing investigation, stating, “At this moment, I have no information, nor do I have any status; I am neither an accused, nor a suspect, nor a witness. I have not met with them since that day.”
Simonyan further explained that the confiscated phones contained only games and school chats, and a notebook was taken that contained only three filled pages related to his wife’s special education work. He expressed his disbelief that the authorities would disregard the more than 30,000 votes his faction received, especially in light of potential snap elections in Gyumri.
Allegations of Election Irregularities and Political Pressure
Referring to the justification for the search, Simonyan mentioned that the actions were allegedly based on factual data obtained from 5-6 audio recordings. However, he stressed that he was not present in any of these recordings. Simonyan also raised concerns about the infiltration of political campaigns, stating, “During the election period, 3-4 volunteers join the team, and you never know how many of them were planted by the authorities.”
Avetis Arakelyan, another political figure, echoed concerns about potential snap elections in Gyumri, stating, “I cannot imagine how our more than 30,000 votes can be disregarded.” Arakelyan also affirmed that any decisions made would be in the best interests of Gyumri, stating, “I assure you, we will not do anything secretly; the decision will be based on the interests of Gyumri city.”
Gagik Tsarukyan’s Case and Broader Political Context
This incident occurs amidst a broader political climate in Armenia, with other high-profile cases making headlines. Gagik Tsarukyan, a prominent political figure, has also been charged, with the decision to prosecute him made without overcoming his immunity. Tsarukyan has denied the charges, and his son, Nver Tsarukyan, has been questioned twice in connection with murder cases that remain unsolved.
Earlier reports indicated that law enforcement officials were searching for weapons and ammunition at Karen Simonyan’s home and car in connection with an election bribery case. The Anti-Corruption Committee is investigating the criminal proceedings.
The political landscape in Gyumri has been dynamic, with recent events including the resignation of Kima Abrahamyan, a ‘Civil Contract’ party member of the City Council, and attempts by council members to disrupt sessions to prevent increases in parking fees and public transport costs.
The ongoing investigations and political maneuvering highlight a period of significant activity within Armenia’s political sphere, particularly concerning local governance and electoral integrity.
