Surik Papikyan's Relative Becomes Deputy Mayor

During the extraordinary session of the Gjumri Council today, November 18, members of the council elected community leaders from the Civil Contract party: 40-year-old Arthur Papikyan (as the first deputy) and 39-year-old Davit Arushanyan. This was reported by News.am.

The proposed decision was opposed by 5 members present from the 'Living Land' and 'Awakening' national Christian factions, while two members from the Republican Party of Armenia abstained from voting. The present members from the 'Civil Contract' party and the 'Balasanian Alliance' social group voted in favor.

It is noteworthy that Arthur Papikyan is the grandson of Surik Papikyan, who was recently appointed Minister of Defense.

According to the 'Public Service Law', the second deputy mayor does not necessarily have to be a member of the council. The council elected Davit Arushanyan, who is affiliated with the Civil Contract party and participated in the National Assembly elections as a candidate of the same party.

It should be recalled that after the local government elections in Gjumri, the 'Balasanian' Alliance, which received the majority of votes, signed a cooperation agreement with the Civil Contract party. Vardges Samsonyan from the 'Balasanian' Alliance was elected mayor, and the deputy mayors were chosen from the Civil Contract party.