Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the participants of the primary voting held in Gyumri.

First, the Prime Minister thanked them for participating in the primary voting in Gyumri and congratulated them. “This is, in fact, a new experience for the Republic of Armenia and our party. Our conclusion is unequivocal: this is a positive experience. Of course, we will also analyze what happened, the details of the voting, in order to further improve it. I would also like to thank our colleagues, MPs Vahagn Aleksanyan and Artur Hovhannisyan, for the work done, and of course, the youth organization of the Civil Contract party, which carried out the voting first hand,” noted Nikol Pashinyan.

The Prime Minister also thanked all the residents of Gyumri who participated in the primary vote. According to the Prime Minister, it is very important to record that those who participated, see and know that their voice, their vote has a very concrete impact on further processes. “As we had agreed, in your presence, I will now appoint our colleague Sarik Minasyan, who received the most votes during the primary vote, as the acting mayor of Gyumri.

After Shirak Governor Mushegh Muradyan submmitted a resignation letter, I decided to present Davit Arushanyan’s candidacy as Shirak Governor to the Government. I am saying this so that our dear compatriots, the residents of Gyumri, see that their decisions and positions have a direct impact on the decisions of the Government and my own. This is something that concerns not only Gyumri and the residents of Gyumri. Of course, once again something new is happening in Gyumri, which is very symbolic," the Prime Minister said.

Nikol Pashinyan congratulated Sarik Minasyan and wished him success. According to the Prime Minister, he will assume the leadership of the Gyumri community in a very difficult situation, with elections expected in the near future. “Of course, I am sure that our colleagues will provide you with all their support in this matter''.

I would also like to emphasize the following: in fact, our beloved Gyumri residents predetermined with their votes at least the leading part of the list of the “Civil Contract” party in the Gyumri Council of Elders elections, we will make decisions about the remaining parts based on further discussions. Of course, I assume that MPs will not be included in the list, because it is understandable that they will not leave their current status and participate in the works of Gyumri Council of Elders, but our other colleagues, according to the votes they collected, will have their place on the list,” the Prime Minister said.

David Arushanyan noted that the primary elections were an experience for Gyumri and their political team. “We can definitely say that it was successful, there was enthusiasm in Gyumri, the results of which we see today. It was a very well-organized democratic process,” Arushanyan said and thanked the Prime Minister for the trust and for nominating his candidacy for the post of Shirak Governor.

In turn, Sarik Minasyan thanked the Prime Minister for such an opportunity. “I also express my gratitude to all the residents of Gyumri who participated in the first-ever primary vote. The responsibility is great and I am ready to implement all the programs with the dignity befitting a resident of Gyumri,” noted Sarik Minasyan.

Other participants in the primary vote also emphasized the importance of implementing such a process in Gyumri and expressed their willingness to assist Sarik Minasyan in the process of the city management.

Prime Minister Pashinyan then signed the decision to appoint Sarik Minasyan as the acting head of Gyumri community.