YEREVAN. – There is a political bargaining going on, with respect to whether or not petitioning to Armenia’s Constitutional Court, because presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound after an assassination attempt—is constantly changing his mind. Fellow presidential contender, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan stated this during a press conference on Monday.   

“[But] it is altogether another issue as to whether it is a bargaining among the candidates, or the candidate’s bargaining with the authorities,” Melikyan said. 

Also, he reflected on the establishment of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Party, and noted that, in this way, the namesake opposition bloc will further weaken its position.   

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Paruyr Hayrikyan on Sunday submitted to the Constitutional Court a formal request to postpone the presidential election—which is slated for February 18—for two weeks, on the grounds of insurmountable obstacles that are standing in his way. The Court has to consider this petition within four days. Prior to this submission, however, Hayrikyan had changed his mind several times on whether or not applying to the court. 

Also, 28 members from the ANC bloc had petitioned to the Justice Ministry with a formal request to register a political party named Armenian National Congress.