Artashes Barseghyan was elected the new mayor of the village of Apga (Future) in the Armavir Marz during the last round of local elections held in October, 20008. A new round of improvements, mainly positive, has been seen in the village, but they have come with stiff sanctions and fines for those who violate the newly introduced laws. "Garbage is collected on a normal basis every ten days. We've instituted fines for those who violate the sanitation rules. For every pail of garbage improperly disposed of the violator will have to pay 20,000 drams," stated Mayor Barseghyan. There also specific hours when metal welding can be performed in the village. Residents know that if they switch on various European appliances during the hours of 9:30 to 5, the hours when welding is allowed, they may short circuit. A 50,000 dram fine is levied for those who perform metal work after hours. The reform package has even affected the village cemetery. Traditionally, residents of the neighboring village of Lousagyugh have interred their loved ones within the limits of Apaga; no longer. Mayor Barseghyan's new ruling states that outsiders can no longer purchase new burial plots within the village. He says that he is planning for the future of the village. Even Arayik Aghababyan, Armavir's Deputy Regional Governor, who visited the village after receiving a stream of complaints, said that the mayor's decision was correct.