YEREVAN. – Armenia’s ex-presidential candidate, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM, Arman Melikyan did not—and is not preparing to—take part in the public rallies, which are held at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square, by opposition Heritage Party Chairman, former FM Raffi Hovannisian—who is declared runner-up to the winner, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, as a result of the presidential election that was conducted on February 18, but who claims to be the real winner in the vote—, Melikyan himself told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

To the query as to the reason for such decision, the former presidential contender specifically responded as follows:   

“There are no winners in rigged elections, they all are defeated; and this should be comprehensible especially for attorneys Raffi Hovannisian and [fellow ex-presidential candidate] Andreas Ghukasyan. A lie cannot be brought to the arena of truth with a lie. The claims that there is the fourth elected President of Armenia are a lie.”    

To note, Ghukasyan joined the rallies being held by Hovannisian and his supporters. Another ex-presidential hopeful, opposition Freedom Party Chairman and former PM Hrant Bagratyan, likewise announced that he will join Raffi Hovannisian.   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am