Vanavan Resident Protests with Hunger Strike Demanding Mayor's Resignation

A 50-year-old resident of the Vanavan community in the Gegharkunik region, Atom Mkrtchyan, has been on a hunger strike for the third day, demanding the resignation of Mayor Norair Harutyunyan, who has held the position for 30 years.

This was conveyed to NEWS.am by community council member Gohar Galstyan. He noted that a mayoral election took place ten months ago, resulting in the reelection of Norair Harutyunyan.

“In these past ten months, this person has not held a single council meeting; he only conducted one swearing-in ceremony and that’s it. He is like a chameleon politically; he aligns with whichever party is in power at the time,” said Gohar Galstyan.

According to the council member, the mayor has removed and taken the community’s water pipeline materials, misappropriated agricultural equipment, operates without a community development plan, and has completely sold off community production areas through secret auctions, leaving villagers in financial ruin. This has led the community member to resort to a hunger strike. “There are also pieces of evidence, foundations, and everything is documented. We have submitted complaints everywhere – there has been no response. In the end, we reached out to the regional administration, which remained silent. We no longer know where to complain; now this person has gone to extremes. The mayor also says, 'If you are dying, die; you are of no use to me,'” he recounted.