There’s a plaque affixed to the entrance of the mayor’s office in the village of Hayanist, Ararat Marz, denoting that the local Republican Party office is located inside. There’s also a Republican Party poster hanging on the office door of Artur Babajanyan, the assistant to the mayor. It would appear that this is in violation of the RA "Law on Political Parties" which prohibits local political party offices to be housed in municipal building, public schools, military units or law enforcement buildings. Artur Babajanyan said that at one time the room did serve as the party office but that it stopped functioning about one month ago. When I asked about the Republican Party posters adorning the wall and why they haven’t been removed, Babajanyan answered, "They look nice." He said that he belonged to no political party. When I asked if the law allows municipal buildings to house political party offices, the assistant mayor pondered the question for a moment and then replied, "Probably, since there was an office here. Anyway, there’s no problem now since the office has closed." Hayanist Village Mayor Balabek Sargisyan recently entered the ranks of the Republican Party after leaving the Prosperous Armenia Party. We are told that he is actively seeking new recruits for the party.