Pro-government MP self-nominates for Gyumri mayor

Pro-government lawmaker Karen Sarukhanyan has self-nominated to become the acting mayor of Gyumri.

Armenia’s second largest city has been left without a mayor for over a month following the resignation of the ruling Balasanyan bloc.

Sarukhanyan, who heads the ruling Civil Contract party’s branch in Gyumri, announced his nomination in a social media post on Monday, saying it was backed by the majority of his teammates.

Earlier in November, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the acting mayor would be randomly chosen by Gyumri residents in primary elections scheduled for December 8-10.