There’s a hustle and a bustle in the schools and other buildings in Armavir Marz.

Cars driven by representatives of the Republican and Prosperous Armenia parties are going around handing out sweets and drink in schools and kindergartens.

March 8 is International Women’s Day. In Armenia, the custom is to present flowers and candy.

In Armavir, holiday cakes are being distributed to schools as gifts from Prosperous Armenia MP Rustam Gasparyan. Champagne and cake is being distributed in the name of the Republican Party.

Politics, however, seems to intrude even in when it comes to spreading the holiday cheer. Most of the schools’ principals are members of the Republican Party and they refuse to accept gifts from Prosperous Armenia. But they have no qualms about taking cake and champagne when delivered by their own.

According to scuttlebutt, Hasmik Gasparyan, a Republican Party member and Principal of the No. 6 Armavir School, has sent back a cake delivered by MP Gasparyan.

She’s reported to have said, ‘I don’t need anything from Prosperous Armenia.”

I couldn’t reach her for comment.