Some candidates withdraw from campaign
Today the issues of registration of electoral lists presented by the parties and alliances for participation in April 2 parliamentary elections as well as issues of provision of numbers to the parties and alliances have been discussed at the CEC session in the RA Central Electoral Commission. First the issue of Free Democrats Party lists was discussed and it was noted that all the necessary documents had been presented, there were few technical problems, but there were no objections. Without voting the lists of the parties were registered. Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), Communist Party of Armenia (HKK), Armenian Renaissance Party (HVK), Yelk (Way out) alliance, Congress-HZhK alliance, Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian alliance, Tsarukyan alliance were also registered. By the way, one candidate from Tsarukyan alliance, Saribek Hovoyan, has presented a withdrawal from the campaign, and his documents were withdrawn from the list. Norayr Poghosyan, Hamlet Hayrapetyan, from the HHK have also presented withdrawals from the campaign, and with regard to Hovik Asatryan, the CEC received a death certificate. Their documents were also withdrawn from the list. Anahit Sefilyan from the HVK has also presented a withdrawal. The registration of Vladimir Arakelyan, Samvel Melikyan from Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian alliance was rejected, as they didn’t have relevant references demanded by the law. Vahagn Hovakimyan from Yelk (Way out) alliance as an authorized representative noted that he has a right to an advisory vote and presented a proposal, “During the recent week news has been circulated that some of the candidates, who are also employers, demand from their employees to temporarily change their registration place in order to vote for the particular employer. I ask the CEC to clarify for the voters how they can defend their rights, as that phenomenon is a criminally liable action. I voice the illegalities of those candidates and call on you to release a statement.” The CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan announced that the session was underway and after the end of the session such a question could be discussed, “You should follow the agenda. What you said was taken into notice, sit down!” Then by the CEC draw the numbers of the political forces participating in the upcoming elections were decided- Free Democrats-2, Yelk-1, Tsarukyan alliance-4, Congress-HZhK alliance-5, Dashnaktsutyun-9, HKK-7, HHK-6, Ohanyan-Raffi-Oskanian alliance-8, HVK-3.
