YEREVAN. – In the case of a free, fair and transparent election, Armenia will have a new president. Presidential candidate, opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian stated this during a press conference on Friday.  

He noted that he respects all the other presidential contenders that have contributed to Armenia’s establishment.

“The truth is paramount. Let no one begrudge that I am saying emigration refers to him and his predecessors. Armenia lost 200,000 people during the five years of his [that is, the ruling Republican Party candidate, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan’s] governance. His predecessors likewise cannot vaunt, since emigration started during their time [in office],” Hovannisian noted.    

The presidential hopeful has no doubt that, in the case of a free, fair and transparent election, Armenia will have a new president. 

“If there is no runoff [in the forthcoming election], it means the country is being destroyed. There are [election] violations; they are widespread. And if the people come out of the somnolence, they will triumph,” Raffi Hovannisian stated.   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am