Media: Armenia's Gyumri set to come under control of Pashinyan's party

Former Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan and his political bloc have opted to hand over the city’s administration to the ruling party, Civil Contract.

This development was highlighted in the Yerevan-based "Hraparak" newspaper, per Caliber.Az.

The report indicates that Mayor Vardges Samsonyan, affiliated with the Balasanyan bloc, is expected to resign in the coming days. This decision follows the house arrest of one of his deputies and the departure of another deputy to the United States, who has no plans to return.

"The pressure exerted on Samvel Balasanyan's family has proven effective. Balasanyan has decided to yield the city to the Civil Contract party and has requested that Samsonyan vacate his position," the report stated.

Additionally, it is noted that Balasanyan’s son, along with both former and current vice mayors, had previously been arrested but were later released on bail. Samvel Balasanyan himself is currently wanted by authorities.

Balasanyan served as the mayor of Gyumri from 2012 to 2022. His son, Misak Balasanyan, held the post of Armenia's ambassador to Iraq for several months last year but was dismissed following a political fallout between the Balasanyan bloc and the Civil Contract. His other son, Khachatur Balasanyan, faced arrest on charges of illegal land dispossession but was subsequently released on bail.

By Tamilla Hasanova