GYUMRI, Armenia – On March 30, 2025, reports emerged from Gyumri concerning an accumulation of people at polling stations, particularly in districts covered by the ruling party’s candidate, Sarik Minasyan. The “Hayakve” initiative released a photo from outside polling station 31/70 to substantiate their claims.
Gyumri City Council Elections Underway
The Gyumri City Council elections are currently taking place, with a total of six political parties and three blocs participating. The electoral process is being closely watched, especially following these initial reports of unusual gatherings at polling sites.
Key Candidates and Participating Entities:
- Civil Contract Party: Led by Sarik Minasyan.
- Communist Party of Armenia: Headed by former Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan.
- “Country to Live” Party: Karen Malkhasyan is the leading candidate.
- “Mother Armenia” Party Alliance: Karen Simonyan leads this bloc.
- Armenian Labor Socialist Party: Artyom Tumanyan is at the forefront.
- “Euroalliance” Party Alliance: Led by Levon Barseghyan.
- “Democratic Alternative” Party: Artyom Gharaghazaryan is the head of the list.
- “Our City” Party Alliance: Martun Grigoryan is the leading figure.
- “My Strong Community”: Producer Ruben Mkhitaryan leads this initiative.
According to information provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Central Electoral Commission, 82 polling stations have been opened in Gyumri, catering to a total of 111,236 eligible voters.
Concerns Raised by “Hayakve” Initiative
The “Hayakve” initiative, which first reported the accumulations, has expressed concerns regarding the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, especially given the concentration of people in areas associated with the ruling party’s candidate. Such gatherings could potentially be interpreted as attempts to influence voters or create an atmosphere of pressure.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding these reports. The situation remains fluid as the elections proceed, with observers keenly monitoring developments to ensure the integrity of the voting process in Gyumri.
The outcome of these elections will determine the composition of the Gyumri City Council and will be significant for the local governance and future development of the city.
Source: https://news.am/hy/news/874628
