Ararat Governor Focuses Intensively on Masis Elections, Even Extorting Supporters: "Hayriar"

The newspaper "Hayriar" reports: "Ararat Governor Razmik Tevonyan has focused intensively on the Masis elections, even extorting his supporters. We have received information that the governor separately invites each of the current mayors included in the ruling party list and conducts threatening conversations regarding 'past sins.' He states that they know very well who did what and openly threatens that if the results are poor, these matters will take the form of criminal cases.

As a result of the consolidation in the Masis community, 27 communities have merged, and among those included in the ruling party list are the current leaders of Noramarg, Sis, Darakert, Argavand, Darbnik, Khachpar, Hovtashat, Nizami, Norabac, Sayat-Nova, Arbat, Geghanist, and Arevabuyr communities, as well as employees from some municipal offices and deputy mayors.

The ruling party list in Masis is headed by Sayen Hayrapetyan, a local known as Sayad, who is a friend of Governor Tevonyan. Tevonyan submitted his resignation months ago due to opposition within the ruling party regarding Sayad leading the list, but he won and withdrew the resignation, making these elections a crucial test primarily for him.

The day before, Hayrapetyan was appointed as the acting mayor of Masis by the government. However, a violation of the Electoral Code has occurred: current community leaders take vacations during the campaigning period, as required by law, to avoid using administrative resources, while a candidate was presented for Sayad and appointed as acting mayor at the hottest moment of the campaign.