Crisis in Gyumri City Council: Snap Elections Possible

After the special operations conducted at the Gyumri Municipality on October 20 and the subsequent arrests, the city's Council of Elders has found itself in a deep political crisis. The No. 31 Territorial Electoral Commission (TEC) continues to receive applications from members of the council to renounce their mandates and leave the electoral lists, which has led to a chain redistribution of mandates and the disruption of the normal functioning of the council.

The crisis has been particularly acute in the "Communist Party" faction. Initially, Gevorg Ghukasyan and Sedrak Khachatryan renounced their mandates due to being in custody. They were replaced by the next numbers on the list, Tigran Avagyan and Samson Elbakyan. However, before even taking up his mandate, Tigran Avagyan was also arrested and submitted an application from the detention center to lay down his mandate.

The chairman of the No. 31 TEC, Tigran Ghazaryan, clarified the situation at an extraordinary session of the commission: "A protocol has been sent to the municipality stating that Tigran Avagyan has laid down his mandate. The municipality has sent the protocol to the commission."

According to him, Avagyan's mandate will be handed over to the next number on the party's electoral list, Artyom Mkrtchyan. However, there is a problem here as well: Mkrtchyan holds the position of acting head of the municipal utility department, which, according to the Law on Local Self-Government, is incompatible with the mandate of a member of the council of elders. He has one month to choose between the two positions. In addition, Gnel Manukyan from the same faction has also submitted an application for self-recusal.

There is also a problem with mandates in the "Our City" alliance of parties. Council member Narek Mirzoyan has submitted an application to renounce his mandate. The next number on the list, Hasmik Khachatryan, has also recused herself. As a result, the commission will transfer the mandate to the 10th number on the alliance's electoral list, Artak Hovsepyan.

One session of the council has already not taken place due to a boycott by the "Civil Contract" faction. The opposition needs 17 mandates to ensure a quorum. If the council does not convene for three consecutive months, it will be dissolved by law, and snap elections will be scheduled. Some analysts do not rule out such a prospect.