YEREVAN. – Two of Armenia’s seven presidential candidates will not cast their ballots on Election Day on Monday. They are: Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan, and “Radio Hay” Company Manager and political scientist Andreas Ghukasyan—who is on a hunger strike.

Ghukasyan had informed news reporters on February 16 that he does not plan on voting, since he is physically unable to go to the election precinct. In his words, following the election he and his supporters will declare a civil disobedience.   

Melikyan likewise had announced that he does not intend on voting on Election Day. He had justified his respective decision by arguing that his view toward the illegitimacy of this election has not changed.

To note, a presidential vote is conducted in Armenia on Monday. And the seven presidential candidates that are running in the election are: Ruling Republican Party leader and incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, opposition Heritage Party Chairman and former FM Raffi Hovannisian, opposition Freedom Party Chairman and former PM Hrant Bagratyan, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan, “Radio Hay” Company Manager and political scientist Andreas Ghukasyan, and non-party affiliate and epic poetry specialist Vardan Sedrakyan.