YEREVAN. – A total of eight nominees will run for the Office of the President of Armenia in the elections that will be held on February 18. 

The 48 hours, which the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) had given to eight presidential hopefuls in order to pay the AMD 8 million (approx. $19,805) collateral to be able to run, have expired on Thursday.      

And from them, solely National Accord party Chairman Aram Harutyunyan paid this collateral, CEC Press Secretary Hermine Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. As a result, Mher Hayrapetyan, Robert Simonyan, Pavlik Sargsyan, Narine Mkrtchyan, Ruben Ayvazyan, Robert Aharonyan, and Taron Abrahamyan are left out of the presidential race.

The necessary documents are submitted and the aforesaid collateral is paid by eight nominees. They are: President Serzh Sargsyan, opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian, opposition Freedom Party Chairman Hrant Bagratyan, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan, “Radio Hay” Company Manager Andreas Ghukasyan, epos specialist and non-party affiliate Vardan Sedrakyan, and National Accord party Chairman Aram Harutyunyan. So, these eight candidates will run for president.