Yerevan, September 24, 2025
The head of Parakar community near Yerevan, Volodya Grigoryan, was shot dead outside his home overnight, Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. Grigoryan was a member of the opposition party Aprelu Yerkir, led by former Karabakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan, currently held in an Azerbaijani prison on terrorism charges.
According to the ministry, the attack also claimed the life of Grigoryan’s friend, a criminal police officer, while another man was injured. Authorities said a lone gunman carried out the assault before fleeing the scene.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan condemned the killing early Tuesday, urging the Interior Ministry to ensure the crime is swiftly solved.
Grigoryan, elected in March this year, defeated a candidate backed by Pashinyan’s party in local elections. His murder marks one of the most serious attacks against an opposition figure in Armenia in recent years and is likely to further inflame political tensions in the country.
