Gohar Meloyan, third on the Strong Armenia party list, has submitted a self-withdrawal application to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), declining to take up her parliamentary mandate. She announced the decision on her Facebook page.

Meloyan said she would remain a member of the Strong Armenia party council and continue contributing to the party's institutional development.

“A new phase of a difficult but values-based struggle is beginning, with work to be carried out in multiple directions. Strong Armenia will pursue complementary activities both inside and outside parliament,” she wrote.

Another elected candidate, Avetis Arakelyan, Gyumri's first deputy mayor and acting mayor, has also declined his mandate. Arakelyan, who is Vardan Ghukasyan's son-in-law, was among the 29 MPs elected from the Strong Armenia political force founded by Samvel Karapetyan. According to the CEC, he has also filed a self-withdrawal application, Aravot.am reports.

Meanwhile, Mesrop Manukyan has applied to resign his Yerevan City Council mandate and is preparing to assume a seat in the National Assembly, Panorama.am reports.

Manukyan is included in the electoral list of the Armenia Alliance.

Former Armenian ambassador to the U.S., Lilit Makunts, will likewise not take up her parliamentary seat. According to the CEC, she has submitted a self-withdrawal request, RFE/RL reports.

Separately, Alen Simonyan of the ruling Civil Contract party has also announced that he is declining his parliamentary mandate. He had sought to become speaker of the new parliament, but the party's executive endorsed Ruben Rubinyan for the position instead.