Ex-mayor: Armenia's ruling party obsessed with power

Former Vanadzor Mayor Mamikon Aslanyan, who was jailed after winning the 2021 local elections, on Friday joined several others outside the Anti-Corruption Court to express support for Martun Grigoryan, an opposition candidate for Gyumri mayor.

Aslanyan accused authorities of undermining local elections in Vanadzor, Alaverdi and Gyumri, aiming to turn self-governance into a tool of the central government. He argued that their actions violate European commitments to local democracy and erode public trust.

"The current authorities are obsessed with seizing power at any cost, using brutal and unlawful tactics," Aslanyan warned. He predicted strong opposition support in Gyumri’s municipal elections but remained uncertain about how votes would translate into seats. "Gyumri is dear to me and I don’t want its people to suffer as Vanadzor did."

Meanwhile, the court is set to hear motions to impose administrative supervision on Grigoryan’s father and son who were arrested after searches at his campaign offices and home on Thursday. Grigoryan denied any wrongdoing, calling the arrests politically motivated.

The other opposition candidates, including prominent TV producer Ruben Mkhitaryan, also condemned the searches and arrests as politically motivated.