Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan is going to appeal to the Constitutional Court with a request to postpone the election day by two weeks.
Hayrikyan said this in conversation with NEWS.am.
He noted that today he intends to submit a request, and is now waiting for a lawyer to clarify some details. Hayrikyan also said that he wanted his request to the Constitutional Court to be registered for February 10, but since February 10 is Sunday, he is going to submit the request today.
Another important legal nuance is the fact that Hayrikyan wants to note in the request that the decision to postpone the elections can be revoked at any moment during consideration of the request. This means that within four days, when the Constitutional Court will consider the request Hayrikian's condition may improve and he may be able to take part in the campaign, therefore, waive the request for the postponement of elections.
Hayrikian said his health is normal, although his right hand is sore. Tomorrow it will become clear as to when he will be discharged from the hospital. He wants to visit distant regions of Armenia and meet with voters if his health permits.
On January 31, candidate for Armenian presidency, Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder on Tpagrichneri Street (Pechatniki) in the centre of Yerevan, where his parents reside.
Legal proceedings were instituted under Article 34-305 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The investigation is conducted by National Security Service.
According to the Constitution of Armenia, in the event of insurmountable obstacles for a candidate, the election of the president is postponed for two weeks.
The sixth Armenian presidential election will be held Feb.18 from 08:00 to 20:00 local time. The head of state is elected for five years.
Those running for the presidency are the incumbent president and ruling Republican Party leader Serzh Sargsyan, former Prime Minister Grant Bagratyan, chairman of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovhannisyan, Paruyr Hayrikyan, Arman Melikyan, Andrias Ghukasyan, Vardan Setrakyan and the leader of the National Accord Party Aram Harutyunyan.