Opposition bloc sues Yerevan mayor
The opposition Mother Armenia alliance has filed a lawsuit against new Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan for assuming office in violation of the law.
"By the decision of the Mother Armenia bloc, I have filed a lawsuit against Tigran Avinyan, who illegally took over as Yerevan mayor,” Samvel Hakobyan, a Yerevan City Council member representing the opposition bloc, said in a statement on Saturday.
Avinyan, who represents Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's Civil Contact party, was sworn in on October 13. His lavish inauguration ceremony cost taxpayers over 87 million drams ($220,000).
“Under Armenian law, the mayor must assume office on the third calendar day after his election at a meeting of the City Council convened by force of law,” Hakobyan stressed.
“However, this meeting lacked the necessary quorum (participation of at least 33 councilors). Thus, Tigran Avinyan took up the post illegally,” he stated, adding the mayor’s office failed to properly publicize the meeting records and release the names of its participants.
Hakobyan said they asked the Administrative Court to oblige the City Council to hold a new meeting for Avinyan to be sworn into office in compliance with the law.
"Otherwise, fresh Yerevan elections must be held, which Civil Contract and its supporters oppose," he added.