YEREVAN. – Armenia’s presidential candidate, non-party affiliate, epic poetry specialist Vardan Sedrakyan is not planning on burning his Range Rover Sport as a result of the decision by fellow presidential contender, 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. Sedrakyan himself told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.       

Sedrakyan noted that he had promised to burn his car in terms of making a comparison, and informed that he does not want to do anything to increase his rating.  

“With his demeanor, Hayrikyan showed that my vehicle is more valuable than him. Any car is more valuable than his life,” Sedrakyan said.   

Reflecting on the chances of himself applying to the Constitutional Court to postpone the election, the presidential hopeful said he is currently consulting with lawyers, and informed that he will announce his respective decision during a press conference in two or three days.   

Vardan Sedrakyan added that Hayrikyan’s decision to not apply to the court was completely foreseeable for him, and he considered this decision to be a result of a trade-off with the authorities. 

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