Sarik Minasyan has been elected by the people as interim mayor of Gyumri after securing 253 votes in unprecedented primary elections.
Notably, Armenian law does not provide for primary elections, making this the first instance of such a process being conducted. The move holds no legal basis and was solely implemented based on Nikol Pashinyan’s declaration that the winner of the primary would be appointed as interim mayor.
The primary elections were initiated following the resignation of Gyumri Mayor Vardges Samsonyan from the Balasanyan Bloc on October 28. His resignation followed October criminal charges against former mayor Samvel Balasanyan for illegally privatizing municipal land in 2014, implicating his son and three relatives linked to the alliance. In response, Samsonyan, his deputies, and other members of the Balasanyan Bloc on the city council stepped down.
UPDATE: Snap City Council elections are set to take place in Gyumri, according to Knarik Harutyunyan, the head of the “Civil Contract” faction in the Gyumri City Council. Harutyunyan made the announcement, noting that the elections come amid recent developments in local… https://t.co/GaoEHTJcUr
— 301🇦🇲 (@301arm) November 8, 2024
In light of these events, the Civil Contract party quickly organized the primary vote, presenting Karen Sarukhanyan, head of its Gyumri chapter, as its unofficial candidate for the mayoral seat. However, Sarukhanyan finished third in the election, unable to secure the position.
The Civil Contract party’s decision to hold elections in Gyumri was likely a strategic move to gauge the popularity of potential candidates ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.
Gyumri’s Political Landscape Shaken: Opposition Balasanyan Family Detained, Possible Elections Ahead
Khachatur Balasanyan, son of former Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan and a key opposition figure, was detained on October 11, suspected of involvement in a corruption case with his… pic.twitter.com/KJ5KocqNao
— 301🇦🇲 (@301arm) October 27, 2024
Sarik Minasyan, a non-partisan candidate, emerged as the winner and was elected interim mayor. Minasyan currently heads the Gyumri division of the Unified Social Service and has prior experience working in Gyumri City Hall. Additionally, he is a former deputy from the Bright Armenia faction.
