In Several Communities, Appointees by Pashinyan Are Leading: 'Zhoghovurd'

According to the newspaper 'Zhoghovurd', in several communities of Armenia, it is currently not the elected mayors who are in charge, but rather acting officials appointed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. As the term of elected mayors expires, Pashinyan has designated these acting officials.

David Khajakyan, a member of the 'Lusavor Hayastan' faction, noted that this is nothing more than the usurpation of local self-government bodies through the abuse of administrative leverage. In an interview with 'Zhoghovurd', he stated that the powers of the acting mayor should temporarily be assigned from among the council members.

Experts familiar with the electoral code provisions assert that the government should have initiated new elections before the end of the mayor's powers, ensuring that the conclusion of one mayor's term coincides with the commencement of another's.

Political scientist Gagik Hambaryan believes that Pashinyan's appointment of officials in various communities, particularly those where elections have been or will be held, is no accident. 'It is a unique political strategy, so that his appointees can change the dynamics before the elections, having the levers to influence citizens' votes. What happened in Gyumri, for instance—an appointee from Pashinyan came, took office, and immediately dismissed five people, signaling that anyone attempting to oppose could face the same fate,' he commented in an interview with 'Zhoghovurd'.

Thus, the authorities are doing everything possible, especially in those communities where opposition candidates are in power, to strengthen their positions through loyalists and ensure the victory of their candidate.