YEREVAN.- Armenian Shant TV channel traditionally started its own counting of the votes in Armenia’s presidential elections.

The channel issued preliminary results from 32 village precincts of Shirak and Syunik Regions. 

The results showed 76 percent voted for incumbent Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan. Raffi Hovannisian polled 22.1 percent of votes. Former premier Hrant Bagratyan got 0.8%, head of the Union for National Self-determination Paruyr Hayrikyan had 0.5%.

Note that on Monday the Presidential Elections were held in Armenia. Seven candidates were running for the presidency: the incumbent President and leader of ruling Republican Party Serzh Sargsyan, the leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian, former Armenian Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan, head of the Association National Self-Determination Paruyr Hayrikyan, political scientist Andreas Ghukasyan, former Karabakh Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan and epos specialist Vardan Sedrakyan.