Martun Grigoryan to support mayoral candidate Vardan Ghukasyan  

ArmInfo. The opposition bloc "Our City" will support Vardan Ghukasyan's candidacy in the upcoming mayoral elections in Gyumri, as noted in the statement by the bloc's  leader Martun Grigoryan, RA National Assembly deputy from the  opposition faction "I Have Honor." 

In his address to the city's residents, he emphasized the events  involving his family members and teammates.

 "The authorities have resorted to all possible and impossible means,  including manipulations, legal and illegal actions, in an attempt to  psychologically suppress me, and to arrest and prosecute my team.  This has been ongoing to this day. But I will talk about this at a  later time. I am aware that these days  the entire city of Gyumri and  the entire republic are tensely awaiting my decision as the further  events and moods in Gyumri and the country depend on it. Throughout  my life, I have proven that the common interests of the country, our  city and the people of Gyumri are more important to me than personal  interests and approaches. Today, I have made a decision that has been  the most difficult and challenging decision in my political life. It  is a decision that I have contemplated for a  long time and have  arrived at with great difficulty.

During the election campaign, I  openly discussed and was the only  one who spoke about what would happen after the elections if Vardan  Ghukasyan were to be elected mayor. I still believe that he is the  most vulnerable candidate due to his criminal cases. Remember this  day to have an idea what may unfold next and how this individual will  be treated. Will they take Gyumri, like Vanadzor, or not? I hope  I  am mistaken. I directly or indirectly spoke about these dangers and  specifically cautioned other candidates, in particular Ruben  Mkhitaryan and Karen Simonyan. Fully aware of the risks, these two  teams announced their steps and hastily declared their support for  this candidate, preventing any discussion and consideration of a less  vulnerable option. In my opinion, for example, we could have elected  Ruben or Karen as mayor as a result of a joint discussion and  cooperation between our four candidates, marking the true beginning  of the collapse of the current state system. This situation rose due  their decision, which is not too late to talk about. 

Dear residents of Gyumri, especially the 7,400  people who voted for  me, you voted for me also on the principle that the current  government will not be replicated in Gyumri. Together we  fought  against this ideology and achieved our goal. I congratulate all of us  on this. The Civil Contract is no longer in power in Gyumri. Dear  relatives, friends, teammates and residents of Gyumri, you stood by  me to prevent the return of the old ways to our city. Knowing my  principles and clear, emphasized red lines, I have always been  against these customs, and it is thanks to me that the city has been  freed from all this over time. Now, due to the hasty decisions of  these two teams, I am forced to make a decision that goes against our  shared principles. 

I apologize to all my voters, relatives, friends and supporters.  However, I also confidently declare that I am subordinating my  personal issues and approaches to the interests and security of my  country, state and statehood, Gyumri and Gyumri people. This step is  taken at the demand of the people. I am sure that you will understand  and support my decision. You have all seen that the political forces,  united and cooperating with each other, will be unable to do anything  in Gyumri without my decision and the decision of the Our City bloc.  From now on everything will depend on the votes of our bloc.  Therefore, we announce that we will give the necessary votes to  candidate Vardan Ghukasyan, who is supported by two other groups,  with no positions, expectations or agreements. I will not remain  passive and will do everything in my power to prevent Civil Contract  from having a mayor in Gyumri," Martun Grigoryan said in a statement.