“The Gyumri residents [even] joke around saying that [Gyumri Mayor Samvel] Balasanyan kept the 2,000 [drams] (approx. $4.90) of the 5,000 drams [approx. $12.26] [being distributed as election bribe] for himself.
And it already was apparent at [Monday] night that [ruling Republican Party candidate and incumbent President] Serzh Sargsyan is losing [the election] in Gyumri, which was evidenced by the data posted on the FB [that is, Facebook] page of [fellow contender, opposition Heritage Party Chairman, and former FM] Raffi Hovannisian.
The electoral activeness in Shirak Region [where Gyumri is located] is reducing in recent times, and the [Monday,] February 18 election was no exception, either. Shirak was the most passive region this time, as well,” Hraparak writes.
