On October 23, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, commented on the detention of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan during a weekly briefing, noting that Moscow was closely monitoring developments in Armenia’s second-largest city. She highlighted that Gyumri hosts Russia’s 102nd Military Base, the Russian Consulate General, a branch of Rossotrudnichestvo, and the "Hill of Honor" memorial dedicated to Russian officers who died in the Russo-Turkish Wars. Zakharova recalled that in August, the Council of CIS Heads of State awarded Gyumri the honorary title of "City of Labor Glory 1941-1945". Emphasizing the importance of Russian-Armenian relations, Zakharova stated, "We value Russian-Armenian relations and always support those who advocate for the traditionally close ties between our peoples". Regarding the mayor’s detention, she said it remained an internal Armenian matter but noted that similar criminal cases had previously been opened against the heads of Vanadzor, Berd, Goris, and other communities, some of whom had been arrested. She expressed hope that such trials would not weaken public trust in the judiciary, adding that the Armenian Prime Minister had recently addressed this issue at the Armenian Democracy Forum. Zakharova also noted that the matter is particularly significant as Armenia approaches its next parliamentary elections, scheduled for June 2026. During the same briefing, Zakharova addressed concerns raised by an Armenian journalist regarding problems faced by long-haul truck drivers in Armenia following recent migration changes in Russia, which had prompted protests and checkpoint blockages. She explained that the issue was being handled by the relevant Russian agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Transport. Zakharova acknowledged the seriousness of the problem but cautioned that no precise resolution date could be given at the moment, stating that efforts were focused on finding a solution as quickly as possible and that further details could be provided after consulting with the responsible authorities.