YEREVAN. – Even though just a few days are left until Armenia’s political forces submit to the Central Electoral Commission their lists for the capital city Yerevan Council election, which is slated for May 5, opposition Freedom Party is still discussing whether or not running in the vote. Party Chairman, ex-presidential contender, and former PM Hrant Bagratyan told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.  

In response to our request to comment on the post-presidential-election developments and how he assesses the ongoing hunger strike by 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—, Bagratyan specifically said as follows:   

“I do not assess it. I respect his [that is, Hovannisian’s] right and obligation, and I respect any decision.”