YEREVAN.- The leader of “Freedom” party, presidential candidate Hrant Bagratyan has replied to the National Self-Determination Union chairman, presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan’s call for running with a single candidate. The presidential candidate wrote on his Facebook page.

“Dear Paruyr,

I read your letter today. It surprised me. First of all you can always call me, we often call each other, no need for an open letter. Then, the facts included in this letter are confusing for me and are not true. For example, after circulating the letter you did not wait for my answer and told the media: Bagratyan said your application to Constitutional Court has passed its deadline. Can you show me the sources? How can you know I said such things? Now to the point. We have made special announcement on application to Constitutional Court. It is your right whether to apply or not. You know my opinion. How is delay in elections connected to running with a single candidate? We have discussed the possibility, we have even signed an agreement on that. Two days after that you were wounded… We can discuss, we must discuss the issue of running with a single candidate, but it has nothing to do with your application to Constitutional Court,” Hrant Bagratyan wrote.

Armenian presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound after a recent assassination attempt—issued an open letter on his Facebook page directed to fellow contenders, namely, opposition Freedom Party Chairman, former PM Hrant Bagratyan and opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian, with a call for a single oppositional candidate.