A "day of silence" was announced in Armenia before the presidential elections, News-Armenia reported today.
According to the Armenian Electoral Code, the campaign, started on January 21, expired on Feb. 16 at 24.00 local time.
Any campaign has been prohibited since midnight to provide voters with the opportunity to make their decisions about the candidates on the eve of the presidential elections. Political forces had 27 days to present their programs and views.
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 and Vardan Setrakyan.
"National Accord" party leader Aram Harutyunyan rejected from participating in the elections on Feb. 8. Earlier, he went on a hunger strike in front of the republican Central Election Commission within one day.
Andreas Ghukasyan and Arman Melikyan went on hunger strike since the beginning of the campaign and will not vote.
The sixth Armenian presidential election will be held Feb.18 from 08:00 to 20:00 local time.
The Central Election Commission has registered 6,883 observers, of which 6,251 represent 26 local public organizations and 632 observers from 12 international organizations.