Who Can Become the Mayor of Yerevan?

There is unprecedented interest in the position of the Mayor of Yerevan, as those on the inside are also vying for the role. According to the law, a mayor can be someone who has turned 30, is a citizen of Armenia, is considered a member of the council, and does not hold citizenship of another state. This means that while becoming a member of parliament requires a long-term residency in Armenia, anyone can renounce foreign citizenship right before elections and run for mayor. This is why the names of nearly a dozen candidates are being circulated.

The government's candidate, as announced, is Tigran Avinyan. From the opposition, names such as Arthur Vanetsyan, Levon Kocharyan, and even Taron Margaryan are mentioned. Additionally, Natalia Rotenberg, the wife of Arzakantsyan, who has arrived from Russia, has also declared her candidacy. Discussions also include Ruben Vardanyan, as well as Arman Tatoyan and Hayk Marutyan.

It is worth noting that the authorities had once planned to hold early elections in Yerevan in October 2022, but later abandoned that idea. Even if there are no regular elections, at least until spring 2023, elections are not expected to take place. The regular election date is set for September 23, 2023.