Ruben Mkhitaryan: We're ommitted to serving Gyumri’s interests

Gyumri’s newly elected City Council held its first meeting on Friday.

 

"Committees were formed, deputy mayors were elected and everything proceeded smoothly," Ruben Mkhitaryan, a member of the My Strong Community faction, told reporters.

 

He emphasized that their goal is to work for the benefit of the city. “If we approve the mayor’s proposed programs, we’ll support them. If we have doubts, we’ll collaborate to improve the proposals before giving our approval,” Mkhitaryan said. He downplayed political divisions, noting that “once there’s quorum, party lines matter less.”

 

Responding to a question about his team's opposition to the Civil Contract faction’s candidates for committee roles, Mkhitaryan cited concerns about their track record. “I’ve seen what Civil Contract's staffing policies led to over the past seven years. Even the country’s leadership has expressed dissatisfaction. Based on experience, we can’t blindly trust these appointments,” he said.

 

He stressed the importance of convening emergency council sessions, noting that months have passed without meetings and key issues are piling up.

 

When reminded of a 2019 interview in which he called for a commission to investigate corruption claims involving former mayors, Mkhitaryan ruled out probing Vardan Ghukasyan, who is currently involved in criminal cases, but said a commission to examine Andranik Kocharyan’s role remains a possibility.