Arrested Mayor of Armenian City Wins Local Elections in Surprise Victory

Strategic Insights -

Arush Arushanyan, the arrested mayor of the Armenian city of Goris, has won elections to local self-government bodies in a surprise victory. Arushanyan, who is currently held at the Yerevan Center criminal correction facility, has been charged with violating voting secrecy and obstruction of voting rights and work of elections commissions. Despite this, he received 6,250 votes, beating Vladimir Abunts, a candidate of the Civil Contract party led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, by a large margin.

Key Takeaways:

  • Arush Arushanyan, the arrested mayor of Goris, has won local elections with 6,250 votes, beating Vladimir Abunts of the Civil Contract party with 3,590 votes.
  • Arushanyan's win is a surprise victory, as he is currently held at the Yerevan Center criminal correction facility on charges of violating voting secrecy and obstruction of voting rights and work of elections commissions.
  • The Armenian Central Elections Commission published tentative data from polling stations, showing an average voter turnout of 33.23% in the elections to local self-government bodies in nine communities across Armenia.
  • The highest voter turnout was seen in the village of Tatev in the Syunik region with 62.66%, while the lowest was in Gyumri with 21.14%.
  • Arushanyan was arrested last summer and has been running his campaign from jail, with his lawyer, Erik Aleksanyan, informing him of his win.
  • The elections were seen as a test for Prime Minister Pashinyan's party, with the ruling party experiencing losses in the second-largest Armenian city of Gyumri.

Statistics:

  • Average voter turnout in the elections to local self-government bodies in nine communities across Armenia was 33.23%.
  • The highest voter turnout was 62.66% in the village of Tatev in the Syunik region, while the lowest was 21.14% in Gyumri.
  • Arushanyan received 6,250 votes, while Vladimir Abunts received 3,590 votes.

Sources:

  • Interfax: "Arush Arushanyan, arrested mayor of Armenian city, wins local elections" (Oct 18, 2022)
  • Interfax: "Armenia: Pashinyan's party faces local losses in elections" (Oct 17, 2022)
  • Interfax: "Arushanyan's win in Armenian elections a surprise, lawyer says" (Oct 18, 2022)