CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ARMENIA REGISTERED 11 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

PanARMENIAN.Net - The central electoral commission of Armenia has registered 11 candidates for the post of the state head. These are acting president Robert Kocharian, chairman of the People Party of Armenia Stepan Demirchian, chairman of "United Armenians" party Ruben Avagian, chief of "Perspective" center for strategic studies Aram Karapetian, chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sargsian, chairman of "National Unification" party Artashes Geghamian, chairman of the National-Democratic Union Vazgen Manukian, first secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia Vladimir Darbinian, member of the political council of "Republic" party Aram Sargsian, chairman of "National Accord" party Aram Harutyunian, leader of "Fatherland and Honor" party Garnik Margarian. At the same time the central electoral commission has denied the director of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, ex-minister for foreign affairs of Armenia Raffi Hovhannisian registration as presidential candidate. In the words of commission chairman Artak Sagradian, the decision was passed on the basis of the fact that R.Hovhannisian is Armenian citizen since 2001. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, a person, which has been a citizen of the republic for 10 years, can become president. Let us note that January 17 the court of appeal will consider R.Hovhannisian's lawsuit demanding to recognize his Armenian citizenship since 1991. In case the court verdict is positive the central electoral commission decision can be revised, as the deadline for completing registration of presidential candidates expires January 20.