The No. 22 Territorial Electoral Commission said at a meeting on November 13 that incumbent Spitak Mayor Kajayr Nikoghosian had sought to gain an electoral advantage by dismissing subordinates who were included on the electoral list of another political party.
The commission said the mayor’s actions could have a “significant impact on the election results,” adding that they could exert not only institutional but also psychological pressure.
The commission has three days to file a lawsuit with an administrative court on the invalidation of Nikoghosian’s registration as a candidate.
Nikoghosian recently dismissed his deputy mayor and several heads of departments who are running in November 29 elections on the electoral list of the little-known Moral Values party.
The Spitak mayor’s office said the dismissals were part of routine personnel changes rather than political retaliation.