Candidate Hayrikyan to delay presidential vote for 15 days?

February 1, 2013 - 20:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian presidential hopeful Paruyr Hayrikyan has not taken an official decision yet whether to delay or not the elections, slated for Feb 18, head of the candidate’s campaign headquarters Manya Ayvazyan said.

Earlier, candidate Hayrikyan voiced reluctance to delay the presidential vote, however adding that he will be forced to take the opportunity to postpone the polls for 15 days.

Article 53 of Constitution stipulates for a 2-week delay in presidential poll in case insurmountable difficulties prevent one of the candidates from running for the post. In case of a candidate’s death, new elections are scheduled to be held in 40 days.

On late Thursday, January 31, Hayrkyan was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound.

A joint group of police and national security service officers has been set up to investigate the assassination attempt. Necessary operative and investigation measures are taken to identify the culprit.