Opposition alleges mass registration of Indian citizens ahead of Armenia's Gyumri elections Pashinyan’s party under fire

Snap elections for the community council in Armenia’s second-largest city, Gyumri, are set to take place on March 30, but the campaign is already marred by controversy and accusations.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, addressing a gathering in Gyumri, accused independent candidates in the election of running solely to protect “their looted property”, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

According to him, these elections involve illegally acquired assets worth between $300 million and $350 million, which should be returned. 

Pashinyan specifically named former officials, including ex-Ambassador Mikael Minasyan, former Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, and former Armenian Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, as individuals who allegedly own such properties.

Meanwhile, former Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan has urged residents to actively participate in the elections in a “minus one” format — signalling a protest against the ruling Civil Contract party. He accused the government of dividing the nation into “black” and “white,” urging voters to express their discontent.

Adding to the controversy, Vahan Babayan, leader of the opposition Reformist Party of Armenia, has raised concerns over the alleged mass registration of Indian citizens in Gyumri ahead of the elections.

“There are many Indians registered in Gyumri city, who I believe will choose not opposition. The relevant bodies should clarify this issue: how many Indians are currently registered in the city and when exactly were they registered?” Babayan stated.

With these allegations adding fuel to an already heated political atmosphere, the upcoming elections in Gyumri are shaping up to be a battleground not just for political control, but for broader concerns over governance, property rights, and electoral integrity.

By Tamilla Hasanova