YEREVAN. – Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party Vice-Chairman, Heritage-led “Barev, [Hello] Yerevan” bloc’s capital city Yerevan mayoral candidate,  Armen Martirosyan cast his ballot in Sunday’s Yerevan Council elections.

Incidentally, Martirosyan’s mother was a member of the commission at the election precinct where the mayoral candidate voted.

During a briefing with news reporters, he said he voted for the political force that has come to radically change Yerevan’s system of governance.    

“It is my wish that our citizens ultimately come out of this ‘sleep,’ just as they came out on February 18 [during the presidential election], and vote for governance. 

Widespread money was distributed [as election bribe] throughout the city of Yerevan. This is the third election whose technology is as follows: In the morning, they bring the people in groups [to the election precincts], whoever needs to be brought, [and] the rest come when they wish,” Martirosyan said. 

To note, the Yerevan Council elections kicked off Sunday at 8am, and 464 precincts opened for the voting.

Six political parties and one bloc are running in the vote. They are the Republican Party of Armenia, Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law), Armenian National Congress Party (ANCP), Arakelutyun (Mission) Party , ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, and the “Barev, [Hello] Yerevan” bloc of parties.

The participating political forces are vying for 65 Council seats. The Yerevan Council election is held with proportional—that is, party—lists only.   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am