RA premier announces early elections for Council of Elders in Gyumri

ArmInfo.During a speech in Gyumri, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that "major events" are expected in the Shirak region.

According to him, since 2018, the Gyumri authorities have attempted  to sow public discontent with the government, rather than with the  city's development program. "We owe Gyumri a great debt," the Prime  Minister said.

Pashinyan also announced that after the National Assembly elections  scheduled for June 7, Gyumri will hold early elections for the  Council of Elders. According to the Prime Minister, the goal of the  elections is to "form a people's government" in Gyumri with the  participation of the city's residents. "We must hold early elections  in Gyumri and assert people's power so that Gyumri can prosper just  as Artik and other cities, and Armenia as a whole, are prospering.  The revolution must benefit the city," the Armenian prime minister  declared.

In March 2025, opposition figure Vardan Ghukasyan was elected mayor.  In October of that year, he was arrested on charges of bribery. A  case was brought against him for renunciation of Armenia's  sovereignty due to his statements in favor of a union with Russia,  but the charges were dropped in December.