Khachik Manukyan starts Vagharshapat election campaign at Yerablur

Writer and publicist Khachik Manukyan, who tops the Homeland Party list in the upcoming Vagharshapat municipal elections, began his election campaign at the Yerablur Military Pantheon, where his son Vachagan, who died in the 2020 war, was buried.

“I started my campaign from Yerablur. I am a symbol of Yerablur’s heroes,” Manukyan said, warning opponents not to resort to “malice and dirty tricks” during the race.

Speaking to journalists, he accused the authorities of planning to use administrative resources in Vagharshapat, calling it “the smallest violation” they might commit. Manukyan, who is also an honorary citizen of Vagharshapat, pledged to focus on social and agricultural issues in the enlarged community and to support the integration of displaced Artsakh Armenians.

The Vagharshapat City Council elections are scheduled for 16 November, with eight political forces competing.

Election coverage has been accredited to around 20 media outlets and one local observer group, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, will monitor the vote.