Several candidates and political groups are vying for control of Gyumri’s municipal administration in the March 30, 2025, snap elections. The key contenders include:
Opposition Candidates:
- Ruben Mkhitaryan (My Strong Community Party) – A prominent television producer with a large nationwide following on social media. He has publicly distanced himself from Civil Contract and believes the next mayor will be in opposition to the central government.
- Vartan Ghukasyan (Armenian Communist Party) – Former mayor of Gyumri (1999-2012), positioning himself as a vocal opponent of the ruling party, especially after his brief detention on February 20, 2025.
- Martun Grigoryan (Our City Alliance) – Gyumri-based parliamentarian and a well-known local political figure.
- Karen Simonyan (Mother Armenia Alliance) – A businessman and another strong opposition candidate.
- Karen Malkhasyan (Country for Living) – Former city council member, recognized for his advocacy on urban development and social issues.
- Artyom Tumanyan (Workers’ Socialist Party of Armenia) – A candidate representing a socialist platform.
Ruling Party Candidate:
- Sarik Minasyan (Civil Contract) – Acting mayor of Gyumri, appointed by the ruling Civil Contract party in December 2024. He is running as Civil Contract’s official candidate and has been accused by opposition groups of using his government position to boost his electoral chances. Throughout his political career, he has changed party affiliations multiple times, having previously been a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and Bright Armenia before joining Civil Contract. Notably, when he was appointed as acting mayor, he was non-partisan.
Potential Political Alliances:
- Euro Alliance – A coalition of several pro-Western groups, widely seen as a potential ally of Civil Contract in a post-election power-sharing deal. Some opposition figures claim this alliance is a covert attempt to secure votes for the ruling party. The alliance’s list is led by Levon Barseghyan, chairman of the Asparez Journalists’ Club Council, a controversial figure in local politics.
- Democratic Alternative – Led by Suren Sureniants, with Artyom Gharaghazaryan as their candidate. Gharaghazaryan has accused the Euro Alliance of attempting to deceive opposition voters and ultimately supporting Civil Contract.
With a diverse field of candidates, analysts suggest that no single party is likely to win an outright majority, making post-election coalitions a crucial factor in determining Gyumri’s next mayor.
