Mayoral elections in four Armavir villages – Geghakert, Tzaghkounk, Dasht, Lernamerdz – took place yesterday. In three of the four, the only candidates running were the mayors in office and all were re-elected. In Geghakert, independent Mayor Seryozha Arakelyan, was re-elected. Republican Party Mayors Davit Karapetyan and Hrant Petrosyan were returned to office in Tzaghkounk and Dasht respectively. There were two candidates battling for office in Lernamerdz, a community that externally proclaims itself as the last bastion of communism in Armenia. A statue of Lenin still stands in the village square. Despite their Communist Party leanings, residents elected non-aligned candidate Vardan Mirzoyan to be their next mayor with a 67 votes. He is the brother of current Mayor Sahak Mirzoyan opted out of the race. Mirzoyan defeated CP member Armen Arakelyan who garnered a mere 61 votes.