YEREVAN. – In his Facebook page, ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP, National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman, Artak Zakaryan commented on opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian’s—who became runner-up to the winner, RPA leader, incumbent President Sargsyan, in Monday’s presidential election, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote—assembly in Ashtarak city where, as per Zakaryan, there was a low turnout.   

“A two-percent [-strong] ‘fiery’ rally in Ashtarak! Raffi faced the bitter reality in [Aragatsotn] Regional Center Ashtarak when, in a region where he gathered 27,000 votes, solely 400-500 people (less than two percent of the votes he received) come to meet with him. Moreover, 60-70 percent of these [people] are the [opposition ARF] Dashnaktsutyun [Party] members that were brought from nearby villages. 

I believe many things will become clear, during this time, for those people that get excited quickly,” Zakaryan specifically wrote.    

To note, Raffi Hovannisian announced, during Friday’s rally at capital city Yerevan, that he will pay visits Saturday to the Cities of Ashtarak, Vanadzor, and Gyumri—where he had defeated the serving president in Monday’s election—, and that a huge rally is scheduled for Sunday in Yerevan.