Who will win the election in the town of Metsamor?
On September 9, an election for the mayor will be held also in the town of Metsamor, the region of Armavir. Official nominations will commence on August 5, but names of possible candidates have been circulating already. The aspirants are Robert Grigoryan, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the current mayor, and Ashot Grigoryan, the former mayor. It is possible that the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) will nominate its own candidate, since the PAP won the majority of votes in this community during the parliamentary election. There are speculations that Susanna Hakobyan, who was in 36th place on the PAP list for proportional representation during the parliamentary election, may be the PAP candidate. It is rumored that Sargis Harutyunyan, the head of the Metsamor sector of Armavir Power Supply Network, wants to participate in the election too.
The interesting thing about this election is that the town of Metsamor, as well as other communities of Armavir, has been perceived as areas under General Manvel Grigoryan’s rule since the independence of Armenia. Ashot Grigoryan, the general’s brother, has held that office with the active support of the general for many years and there was no progress in Metsamor in the years of his rule. The general supported his brother only in terms of elections, afterwards, not only did they not do anything here, but they also tried to get as much benefit as possible. Besides, the atmosphere of fear was waging, since Ashot Grigoryan, being supported by his brother, the general, was for solving problems using brute force. Residents of Metsamor still remember the arrogant attitude of Ashot Grigoryan and his entourage. As a result of a local election in 2008, because of deteriorated relations between
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Manvel Grigoryan and his brother and nephews, Ashot Grigoryan said goodbye to the office of the Metsamor mayor. Let us remind that the relations between the general and the ruling party were not smooth because of the first president’s return to politics. The general’s relatives argued with Manvel Grigoryan who “took sides” with Ter-Petrossian. It even came to a public showdown in the village. RPA member Robert Grigoryan, who, obsessed with the desire to privatize what had been left behind by Ashot Grigoryan, caused his own party’s defeat in the parliamentary election on May 6, had been elected the mayor. The RPA got only 1000 votes from 4500-voter community. The PAP was in the first place, the Heritage Party in the second. Concerning the latter, the consistent approach of the Heritage Party on the issue of nuclear power plant workers, because of which many issues were solved, played an essential role. As for the current mayor, the locals tell that keeping without irrigation and deserting even lawns and vicinities of kindergartens, he sells them, disregarding even the architectural image of the town.
The possible PAP candidate is not talked much about, since, in the locals’ opinion, despite the fact that her party won the majority of votes during the parliamentary election, Susanna Hakobyan doesn’t have many chances. Sargis Harutyunyan, the head of the Metsamor sector of Armavir Power Supply Network, who is also the godson of Ruben Hovsepyan, the Armenian Attorney General’s brother, and the local coordinator of Nig Aparan, a patriotic union, is perceived as the most probable rival of Ashot Grigoryan and Robert Grigoryan here. During his 3-4-year tenure as the head of the power supply network, he has managed to get a positive image with his readiness to help the locals with various issues, besides, he, sponsored by Nig Aparan, has had the town landscaped and decorated.
NELLY GRIGORYAN
