YEREVAN. – Armenia’s presidential contender, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan will not apply to the Constitutional Court (CC) so that the February 18 election may be postponed. Melikyan himself told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am, and noted that he does not wish to have anything to do with the judicial system on any matter.  

“It is his decision. If he wants, let him petition. Nothing new will enter into our tactics related to it.” Melikyan stated this, in connection with the decision by fellow presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound after an assassination attempt—to not petition to the Constitutional Court, with a request to postpone the forthcoming presidential election.   

To note, it will be bizarre for Melikyan if Hayrikyan does not petition to the Constitutional Court. Melikyan himself had stated this during a press conference on Tuesday, and approximately one hour prior to Hayrikyan’s decision to not apply to the CC.

He had noted that the two-week term was a requirement for recovery, and if this is not done, that means pressures were made.      

“I saw that people representing a variety of interests are attempting to convince what is the meaning [of postponing the vote], why it is necessary. Let Hayrikyan decide without external pressure,” Melikyan had said. 

Also, he had stated that he does not consider the incident that occurred with Hayrikyan to be an election campaign.

“This was not a campaign of platforms; this was a campaign of pity. I am confident that Paruyr Hayrikyan is person with stamina that would not want [for people] to vote for him out of pity,” Arman Melikyan had maintained.     

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Paruyr Hayrikyan’s attorney Levon Baghdasaryan announced Tuesday that Hayrikyan will not petition to the Constitutional Court with a formal request to postpone the presidential election, and therefore the vote will be conducted on February 18, as planned. And Hayrikyan explained his reason for this by saying he does not wish to contribute to the plans to forcibly change Armenia’s political agenda.   

To note, the Constitution of Armenia does not make a distinction among presidential candidates, and therefore each and every one of them can petition to the Constitutional Court (CC) with a formal request to postpone the presidential vote, if he believes that insurmountable obstacles have come about before a contender.

No presidential candidate has yet announced that he could petition to the Constitutional Court with the aforesaid request.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am