28 year-old Vahe Grigoryan, an independent, won yesterday’s special election for mayor in the village of Griboyedov (Armavir Marz).

Voter turnout was quite good in the village. 960 out of 1,499 eligible voters cast ballots in the race that pitted Grigoryan against his two rivals, Baghdasar Gabrielyan and Kamo Jamalyan, both former Griboyedov mayors.

Grigoryan’s margin of victory was substantial. He garnered 445 votes to Gabrielyan’s 272 and Jamalyan’s 220. Twenty ballots were nullified.

After the results were announced well-wishers, especially the youth, converged on Grigoryan’s house.

Most people had no doubt that Grigoryan would emerge victorious but, according to the new mayor’s mother, “we waited until the official results before celebrating”.