Ruben Mkhitaryan: A statesman thinks beyond elections

Renowned producer Ruben Mkhitaryan, who has announced his candidacy for mayor of Gyumri in the upcoming municipal elections, has responded to a statement by the governor of Armenia’s Shirak Province, David Arushanyan.

Arushanyan claimed that the March 30 Gyumri elections are merely a stepping stone for broader political ambitions, suggesting that opposition candidates are not genuinely concerned with the city’s well-being but are instead focused on laying the groundwork for nationwide elections.

"It seems that members of the ruling Civil Contract party, who have been engaged in politics for the past seven years, now see themselves as serious politicians. However, there is a well-known saying: ‘A politician thinks of the next election, while a statesman thinks of the next generation’," Mkhitaryan countered.

“This person who only talks about the upcoming elections is merely a politician. I sincerely hope that opposition politicians, including myself, approach the ongoing processes in Armenia with the mindset of true statesmen. Whether you see yourself as a mayoral candidate, a future MP or even a prime minister, if you do not think about the next generations, you will remain just a politician," he added.