Media: Armenian ruling party seeks control over Gyumri

Armenia's ruling Civil Contract party wants to wrest power in Gyumri, Armenia's second-largest city, from its former coalition partner, the Balasanyan bloc, Yerevan-based Zhokhovurd newspaper writes.

It notes that the bloc's representatives are under strong pressure to give up power, Caliber.Az reports.

Now, according to the newspaper, the authorities have instructed law enforcement agencies to persecute opponents in every possible way. It is noted that the tax authorities have stepped up checks on the business property of the Balasanyan family. Everything is being done to initiate criminal proceedings against them.

It is known that the Balasanyan bloc, founded by ex-mayor Samvel Balasanyan, won 36.59 per cent of the votes in the local elections in Gyumri, while 29.56 per cent of the voters chose the Civil Contract.

After the polls, they formed a coalition, and in September 2023 the son of the former mayor, Misak Balasanyan, was appointed ambassador to Iraq. In early December, however, the Civil Contract ended its cooperation with the coalition. Balasanyan was recalled from Iraq at the end of the month.