Constitutional Court starts examination of appeals
Armenia's Constitutional Court has started examination of appeals filed by presidential candidates Raffi Hovannisian and Andrias Ghukasyan who are disputing the results of the February 18 ballot.
Last week, the Central Election Commission authorized CEC Chairman Tigran Mukuchyan, Secretary Armen Smbatyan and Head of the Legal Department Nune Hovhannisyan to represent the CEC in the hearing. Deputy Prosecutor General Aram Tamazyan, Head of the working group Koryun Piloyan and Harutyun Harutyunyan, will represent the Prosecutor's Office.
CC Chairman Gagik Harutyunyan announced before the sitting that they had received another application by Serzh Sargsyan asking the Court to involve him in the hearing as a third party. Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan and Republican MP Davit Harutyunyan will represent Serzh Sargsyan in the Court.
Lawyer Karen Mejlumyan and Head of Raffi Hovannisian's Campaign Headquarters Zaruhi Petrosyan will defend Hovannisian's interest in the CC.
Raffi Hovannisian went on hunger strike on Sunday calling for a rerun of the February presidential election which he says was rigged in favor of Serzh Sargsyan.
"If on April 9 (inauguration day) Sarksyan takes his fake oath on the Constitution and the Holy Bible and the Supreme Patriarch...blesses the candidate, who mocks the people, then that will happen over my dead body," he said.
"This is not a hunger strike, this is a struggle against fraud and lies," he said.
