The Shirak Provincial Court today sentenced Vahe Ghoukasyan, nephew of former Gyumri mayor Vardan Ghoukasyan, to 17 years imprisonment for murder and illegal weapons possession.

Ghoukasyan’s attorney Hayk Aloumyan had argued that his client acted in self-defense and should be acquitted.

The charges stem from a April 2013 shoot-out in Gyumri resulting in the death of Artyom Karapetyan, one of the participants.