YEREVAN.- Runner-up in Armenia’s presidential elections Raffi Hovannisian held on Tuesday an outdoor press conference in the Liberty Square, in the center of Yerevan.

In fact, Hovannisian presented the regime with an ultimatum, offering to meet with Serzh Sargsyan until 5pm tomorrow to discuss transfer of power. He claimed Armenian people celebrated victory “in the ratio of 80 to 20 percent.”

“All the officials who made mistakes in the election, will be forgiven by people if they admit it before the start of tomorrow’s rally. Those who will not do it, will be punished according to the full extent of the law,” Hovannisian said.

”I want to come to you tomorrow at 5pm and say that Serzh Sargsyan congratulated me on winning the presidential elections,” he emphasized, at the same time asserting incumbent president is a more honest and open person, compared to his predecessors in that post.

“I want to see that Serzh Sargsyan has the potential, courage and determination to recognize people’s victory,” he stressed.

Raffi Hovannisian also called “good news” the end of hunger strike of the presidential candidate Andreas Ghukasyan, wishing him a speedy recovery and further successful demonstration of active citizenship.

Preliminary results issued by Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission showed incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan received 58.64%, while his closest rival Raffi Hovannisian -36.74. The voter turnout reached 1, 521, 931.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am