With the amendments in the Law “On Administrative Territorial Division of the Republic of Armenia”, we propose to form new community associations, to carry out enlargement of communities. Arnak Avetisyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of the RA, said this at the April 30 session of the NA Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environmental Protection.

The deputy minister noted that it is proposed to form an enlarged Stepanavan community of Lori marz, including Stepanavan, Gyulagarak and Lori Berd communities with 20 settlements.

In Syunik marz, it is proposed to unite Goris, Tatev and Tegh communities, forming the enlarged Goris community with 28 settlements. In the Vayots Dzor region, it is planned to unite Yeghegnadzor, Areni and Yeghegis communities with their 32 settlements and form a new Yeghegnadzor enlarged community.

Arnak Avetisyan noted that 9 communities, 80 settlements will be involved in the proposed projects, as a result of which 3 new communities will be formed.

As a result of this stage of enlargement, there will be 64 communities in Armenia. Yerevan, Gyumri and 5 communities inhabited by national minorities will remain unenlarged.

The deputy minister informed that the project was discussed in the communities, discussions were organized with the participation of community leaders and councils of elders.

The reporter noted that it is proposed to make an addition to the law “On Local Self-Government”, which refers to the issue of scheduling elections. “We are making the addition in order to be able to appoint appropriate elections to the councils of the communities before the termination of their powers by the governors,” Arnak Avetisyan informed. Elections are scheduled to be held in those communities in the fall of 2026.

The commission gave a positive conclusion to the discussed question.

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