Your trusted source

Tensions flared outside the local government building in Parakar, a rural community in Armenia’s Armavir Province, on Friday morning.

Scores of police forces deployed at the entrance to the building did not allow the supporters of the Aprelu Yerkir (Country to Live) party candidate to enter it as the new Council of Elders was to hold a session to elect a new community head.

"There is no solidarity," said Valodya Grigoryan, appointed as community head by the Aprelu Yerkir faction, and entered the village hall building without answering other questions.

Tensions arose in Parakar after the December 5 local elections, when two candidates announced that they had been elected head of the community.

The Aprelu Yerkir party won ten seats in the Council of Elders as a result of the elections and named its candidate, Valodya Grigoryan, as new head of the community.

Afterwards, the Davit Minasyan bloc and the ruling Civil Contract party jointed forces and elected Davit Minasyan as Parakar community head.

Grigoryan had to take an oath of office in the courtyard of the building on December 23, since police officers did not allow him to enter it.

Later the Administrative Court ruled to annul the appointment of the new community head.