Vardan Ghukasyan elected Gyumri mayor

Armenian Communist Party leader Vardan Ghukasyan was elected as the new mayor of Gyumri, Armenia’s second largest city, at a municipal council session on Wednesday.

All 18 opposition councilors present at the session voted for Ghukasyan. The announcement of his election was met with prolonged applause and chants of “bravo” from the attendees.

Ghukasyan approached the podium to express his gratitude, stating: “You will never have to feel ashamed on my behalf, no matter what they try to fabricate.”

Ghukasyan’s party finished second in the snap municipal elections in Gyumri on March 30.