Sarik Minasyan, the Civil Contract party candidate for mayor of Gyumri, commented on his loss in the municipal elections, attributing the result to an unexpectedly high voter turnout.

“I was confident based on public sentiment, and my predictions even came true. It was just that turnout was higher than expected. If the number had been what I anticipated, it would have been 50+,” he said, as reported by Panorama.am . When asked why he did not attend the council meeting or run for the council himself, and whether he was afraid, Minasyan replied: “Do you think I’m afraid of anything or anyone?”

He emphasized that they have accepted the mandates and will serve the people of Gyumri.

On April 16, Vardan Ghukasyan, who led Gyumri from 1999 to 2012, was re-elected mayor. All 18 members of the opposition council unanimously backed Ghukasyan. The factions Mother Armenia, Our City, and My Strong Community chose not to nominate a candidate of their own and declared support for the opposition’s top vote-getter, seeking to remove Civil Contract from power.