Armenia’s presidential candidate applies to CC to postpone presidential elections for two weeks (updated)

Armenia’s presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan submitted to Armenia’s Constitutional Court (CC) his application for postponing the presidential elections for two weeks. Hayrikyan presented his application today at 3.30 pm accompanied with his lawyer and assistant.

Speaking to reporters near the CC building, the presidential candidate said, though he is not obliged to inform about all his steps, but would like his associates to know that if the opposition candidates unite in the coming two days he will take back his application and the elections will take place on February 18.

“Unfortunately, we are facing insurmountable impediments and no matter how I tried to ignore these impediments and even tried to go out violating all healthcare rules, the nature was stronger than my wish and I have lost ten days,” he said, adding that the assassination attempt against him has not increased his rating as a candidate.

Speaking about his idea of joint candidate, he said in that case they will change a lot.
He also referred to Hrant Bagratyan’s proposal offering Hayrikyan to be the first to withdraw his candidacy. “Let such person offer me to do it, who has once in his life made such step,” he said.

On January 31 Hayrikyan was shot in the courtyard of his apartment and rushed to St. Gregory Illuminator hospital where he underwent surgery.

According to Armenia’s Constitution, if during the election campaign insurmountable impediments are being created for one of the presidential candidates not allowing him/her conduct campaign the candidate may apply to the Constitutional Court and postpone the elections for two weeks.

On February 7 Armenia’s National Security Service arrested the suspects that shot Hayrikyan. The two Khachatur Poghosyan and Samvel Harutyunyan pleaded guilty.

On February 9 Hayrikyan addressed an open letter via Facebook to presidential candidates Raffi Hovhannisian and Hrant Bagratyan urging them to come up with a united candidate. He said in this case he would apply to the CC to postpone elections to be able to get prepared during the 14 days.