Local elections will take place in Ijevan on November 13 and current Mayor Varuzhan Nersisyan will be running for his fifth term in office.

Nersisyan has served as mayor since 1999, always winning as an independent.

This year, he’s changed his stripes, and will be campaigning as a member of the ruling Republican Party. But it wasn’t the party that has nominated him as a candidate.

Others who have thrown their hat in the race are – Vardan Ghalumyan, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party and member of the Ijevan Municipal Council; Artzruni Ghaloumyan, a member of the Republican Party; independent Ashot Beginyan; and independent Karen Otaryan, now serving as Ijevan Deputy Mayor.

Ashot Beginyan is an unknown to many Ijevan residents. He used to reside in the neighboring village of Gandzakar but registered as an Ijevan resident this March.

Vardan Ghaloumyan is one of the eight Ijevan Municipal Council members that officially registered a complaint against Mayor Nersisyan, citing “a lack of confidence”.

Afterwards, Mayor Nersisyan revoked the powers of five of these eight, arguing “inexcusable absences”.

Ghalumyan was one of the five summarily sacked.

The five dismissed council members launched a legal appeal but the courts upheld the maypr’s decision after a lengthy court procedure.

Vardan Ghaloumyan was re-elected to the council in May of this year.

He is a distant relative of Artzruni Ghaloumyan who heads the Ijevan branch of the Republican Party.

Most observers believe that the race is a contest between the current mayor and Artzruni Ghaloumyan.