The government will undoubtedly do everything possible to ensure that Sarik Minasyan, who secured 36.4% of the vote, becomes the mayor of Gyumri. That percentage was achieved through extensive efforts involving regional administrations, schools, medical institutions, the National Security Service, the Anti-Corruption Committee, and the police. Despite these unprecedented efforts, the ruling party failed to secure an absolute majority. This should serve as a warning signal for the Civil Contract Party (CP), but given the ruling group’s tendencies, the likely response will be limited to the leader’s characteristically erratic outbursts directed at high- and low-ranking officials.
Now, CP will attempt to “fix” the situation through one of three methods:
Pressuring Martun Grigoryan to align with CP—his son and father are effectively being held hostage for this purpose, a tactic previously used in Yerevan.
Arresting Vardan Ghukasyan and/or other opposition figures.
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Annuling the election results.
However, for me, these are merely tactical maneuvers. The deeper issue lies in the state of our society. According to official data, Sarik Minasyan received 17,183 votes. Even if we assume that half were secured through fraud, coercion, or bribery, that still leaves 8,000 to 9,000 Gyumri residents who willingly voted for a man who has openly accused his fellow citizens—conscripted Gyumri residents over the past 30 years—of having accepted bribes to avoid serving in Artsakh. This means that among Minasyan’s voters, there were CP supporters who were not even offended by this slander against their own brothers, parents, and grandfathers. In light of this, the question of who becomes mayor is secondary.
The same applies when CP officials tell the people of Artsakh: “You should have stayed and fought”—which, when translated honestly, means: “You should have stayed and died.” Some statements should be unacceptable, even shameful to utter. Those who hold such views should be regarded as extreme sociopaths on the fringes of society. When monstrous ideas cease to be considered monstrous, it signals a deep societal illness.
Imagine if someone were to declare that eating human flesh is completely normal. Given current trends, even that might not seem so unthinkable in the near future…
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
