Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri will be the center of Independence Day events on September 21, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced.

According to him, it will mark the start of a new tradition of moving the main celebrations to different provinces every year.

Addressing a gala dedicated to Gyumri Day, Pashinyan declared the period between August 25 and September 21 the month of Gyumri.

He said Gyumri has maintained and developed the “traditions of urban life for all of us.” “The reason why we attach so much importance to Gyumri today is that in most difficult times it has maintained our image of a civilized nation. This is the reason why we love and adore Gyumri, why we are proud of Gyumri and its people,” Nikol Pashinyan stated.