Mamikon Aslanyan, who headed the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) list in the recent local election in Vanadzor, on Monday was elected mayor of the third largest city in the country.

Aslanyan was elected mayor by a secret ballot during first session of the newly elected Council of Elders of Vanadzor. 

Earlier, the opposition Bright Armenia, Prosperous Armenia, and Armenian Revival Parties had issued a joint statement and supported Krist Marukyan, who headed the Bright Armenia list, as mayoral candidate.

It turned out, however, that some of these opposition forces did not vote in keeping with their agreement, and cast their ballots in the RPA candidate’s favor.