Ruben Mkhitaryan: Opposition in Gyumri did not allow anyone to 'muddy the waters'

Ruben Mkhitaryan, the mayoral candidate of the My Strong Community party in Gyumri, has welcomed his fellow candidate Martun Grigoryan’s decision to back Communist Party leader Vardan Ghukasyan for mayor of Armenia’s second largest city.

The ruling Civil Contract party fell short of an absolute majority despite winning most of the votes in Sunday's municipal elections in Gyumri.

"The Civil Contract party received the response it deserved in Gyumri and Parakar," Mkhitaryan said in a social media post on Friday.

"In Gyumri, the opposition did not allow anyone to 'muddy the waters'. I am grateful to the other three opposition candidates. Most importantly, we have all demonstrated that we can be guided by a common cause. Congratulations, dear Gyumri residents! Greater victories lie ahead," he added.

The results of the March 30 Gyumri municipal elections revealed the following distribution of seats in the municipal council:

• Civil Contract party – 14 seats

• Armenian Communist Party – 8 seats

• Our City bloc – 6 seats

• My Strong Community party – 3 seats

• Mother Armenia alliance – 2 seats