YEREVAN. – The hunger strike of Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party leader, 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 and who declared a hunger strike on March 10 at capital city Yerevan’s Liberty Square—is incomprehensible and illogical. Ruling Republican Party (RPA) MP Ruzanna Muradyan stated this during a press conference on Tuesday.   

“It would have been logical if Raffi Hovannisian had declared a hunger strike in the case when the Constitutional Court of Armenia had turned down his demand [that the election be declared null and void],” the MP noted.

As per Muradyan, however, the presidential vote was conducted freely and transparently.  

“Raffi Hovannisian is a civilized politician. After voting in the presidential election, we were expecting him to congratulate Serzh Sargsyan,” the RPA MP noted. She also called upon Hovannisian to launch a discourse with the authorities, instead of resorting to extreme measures.   

The MP stressed that the country’s authorities need a strong opposition, and Hovannisian has a great opportunity to build a new oppositional front.  

“Without a doubt, the authorities will accept Raffi Hovannisian, if he decides to become the new leader of the opposition,” Ruzanna Muradyan concluded.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am