YEREVAN. – The health condition of Armenian presidential hopeful Andreas Ghukasyan—who is on a hunger strike ever since January 21—could become an insurmountable obstacle standing in his way, and therefore the election slated for February 18 could be postponed. Ghukasyan’s campaign headquarters coordinator Armen Grigoryan informed during a press conference on Tuesday.   

In his words, Ghukasyan, however, does not wish for the vote to be postponed.

To note, the presidential candidate is on the sixteenth day of his hunger strike under the slogan, “Stop Fake Elections.” 

“[Ghukasyan’s] health condition is normal, he says his fighting spirit is high, but I cannot say anything. The human organism starts producing toxins, after fourteen days [into a hunger strike], which drain the person who is on a hunger strike,” Grigoryan noted.   

Also, he did not rule out the possibility that—aside from the assassination attempt against presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound—Ghukasyan’s health condition likewise could become an insurmountable obstacle that could result in the postponement of the presidential vote. 

“Also, Andreas demanded that the international [election] observers leave Armenia. We met [with them] before the hunger strike and presented our approach. [But] no meeting was held afterward, albeit [foreign] embassy staffs are visiting, showing interest, but the international organizations have not reacted,” Armen Grigoryan stated.   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am