Maluatyun Has No Final Decision, Clarity Expected by End of July: Abgaryan on Mayoral Elections

Recently, media reports stated that former Yerevan mayor Hayk Malatyun had returned to Armenia from the USA and had decided to participate in the city council elections.  

Previously, Yerevan council member Izabella Abgaryan told MediaHub that she is awaiting Malatyun's decision.  

When asked whether Malatyun had made a final decision, Abgaryan responded that nothing is clear at this time. “Malatyun does not have a definitive decision at this point. Naturally, he could not have invited me to participate in the elections during this period. I have, of course, discussed with him that if he runs in the elections, I will be with him. There is no invitation issue; I am not waiting for Malatyun to invite me or not. My final decision is that if Malatyun runs in the elections, I will join him in the fight; if not, then I will not participate,” said Izabella Abgaryan.

In response to the media's link between his return from the USA and participation in the elections, Abgaryan noted that Malatyun was going to return regardless, and this means nothing. “I am also aware that Malatyun is expected to travel to Europe soon for official duties. He has his affairs, so there is no definitive answer right now; I think everything will be clear by the end of July, as time is running out,” she summarized.

It is noteworthy that several parties have already announced their participation in the elections. The names of the candidates are actively circulating: the ruling party, the CP, is heading into elections under Tigran Avinyan's leadership, the country-building party has confirmed Mane Tandilyan as their candidate, the candidate from the 'Power of the Fatherland' party is the wife of the party president Tigran Arzakantsyan, Natalia Rotenberg, and the candidate for the LHK mayor is council member Davit Khajakyan. The second opposition force, the BHK, which currently has a faction in the Yerevan council, has not made a definitive decision yet.