GYUMRI. – The date of registration of the candidates for the local self-governmental elections expired at 6.00 p.m. on Friday. Gyumri’s incumbent Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan has not applied for the nomination, chairman of No. 34 electoral commission Edward Baghramyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am adding 5 candidates have been registered.

Among the five candidates are Prosperous Armenia Party MP Samvel Balasanyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun member Hovsep Simonyan and three non-party members, including Andranik Avetisyan, Rafael Asatryan and Spartak Petrosyan.

According to the media outlets, the incumbent Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan is offended by the fact that his party - ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) - has banned him from being nominated, he has resigned from the office of the RPA regional section and has even applied for leaving the party.