2006 ended notoriously, recording six incidents in which eight were killed in mob-like hits, including two un-involved passersby, both women – one in a popular shopping district, and one who was selling products beside the road to Armavir.

As the killing spree closed out last year, the attacks were seen mostly as settling private scores. Monday’s shooting, coming as Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan was leaving a high-level political party meeting, invariably leads to questions of whether political ill will is behind his and other attacks.