Tensions appear to be rising as official campaigning kicked off for this month’s crucial municipal election in Yerevan. While the Republican and Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) parties planted trees in various districts of the city, Prosperous Armenia held a free concert in Komitas on Sunday. RFE/RL also reports that the ARF-D, recently departed from the ruling coalition government, seems to be setting its sights on the traditional opposition.

“We must realize that it is wrong to say that by winning [control over] the municipality we can create a state within a state and that the next step, regime change, will not be long in coming: the president of the republic will resign and these authorities will go,” said another Dashnaktsutyun leader, Armen Rustamian.

The message was clearly addressed to the main opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) that has pledged to turn the municipal polls into a “second round” of the disputed presidential election and use its possible victory for toppling Sarkisian. The HAK rallied thousands of supporters in downtown Yerevan on Friday.

Its top leader, former President Levon Ter-Petrosian, described proper conduct of the May 31 vote as Sarkisian’s “last chance to gain some authority with Armenian society and the international community.” Ter-Petrosian did not say, though, what his 18-party alliance will do if it considers the vote to have been fraudulent.

Full coverage of the campaign period leading up to the 31 May Yerevan election can be found on The Caucasian Knot and The Frontline Club. You can also join The Caucasian Knot Facebook group for further updates and breaking news or keep an eye on Twitter.