Will Goris Mayor Arush Arushanyan Join the Civil Contract Party?

According to exclusive information from the "Zhoghovurd" newspaper, Arush Arushanyan, the mayor of Goris in the Syunik province of Armenia, has submitted an application to join the Civil Contract Party.

Sources indicate that Arushanyan's decision to align with the Civil Contract Party is the result of serious pressures, as the party, represented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, has previously exerted repression against him.

It is notable that after nine months in detention, Arush Arushanyan was released from the courtroom on March 28, 2022, when the judge acquitted him of election-related crimes. After his release, Arushanyan stated in a conversation with journalists that he does not consider himself a political prisoner and is fighting for his homeland, particularly against internal enemies.

Arushanyan also participated in the last parliamentary elections as a candidate from the opposition "Hayastan" alliance and was elected as a deputy.

The "Zhoghovurd" newspaper has reached out to Arush Arushanyan, who requested not to call him regarding such matters and not to disturb him.

According to information from the newspaper, the governor of Syunik, Robert Ghukasyan, has also played a role in Arushanyan's potential membership in the Civil Contract Party.

It should be added that Arushanyan was charged in two different cases. Today, he was acquitted of charges related to bribing voters during last year's parliamentary elections. This case also saw the acquittal of Lusine Avetyan, the head of Karahunj, which is part of Goris, who initially provided testimony against Arushanyan but later recanted. In court, she expressed regret for having testified against him, although during the investigation, she had claimed that Arushanyan had urged her to provide 100,000 to 220,000 drams to those voting for the "Hayastan" alliance.

The second criminal case attributed to Arushanyan, in which he was found guilty, relates to 2017. According to law enforcement, the mayor of Goris engaged in illegal entrepreneurship through a company he owned and caused harm to the environment and the state. Furthermore, the charges include an episode in which Arushanyan intentionally inflicted damage and injuries to the health of a citizen.

It is worth reminding that the "Zhoghovurd" newspaper reported back on December 7 that the authorities had decided to rid the government of all opposition mayors. As known, at the end of last year, the Civil Contract Party forcibly took control in Alaverdi and dismissed a mayor representing the "Living Land" party.

It appears that a similar fate may have threatened Arush Arushanyan, prompting him to submit an application to join the party.