Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission urges candidate Ghukasyan to stop hunger strike

YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Armenia’s central electoral commission expressed their concerns over ongoing hunger strike of candidate for president Andrias Ghukasyan whose health condition worsened recently, and urged the candidate to stop the hunger-strike.

Head of Radio Andrias Ghukasyan has been on an indefinite hunger strike since January 21 demanding fair elections. He claims the upcoming elections are illegitimate as the ruling Republican Party of Armenia makes use of the administrative resources. Wednesday morning Ghukasyan got worse, his blood pressure dropped and an ambulance was called. Currently Ghukasyan is under round-the-clock medical observation. The candidate said he would continue his hunger-strike.

“We express our concerns over health statuis of presidential candidate Andrias Ghukasyan and advise him to cease the hunger-strike and take measures to avoid health complications”, the commission’s statement says.

The commission also suggested the ministry of health maintaining special control over the health condition of the presidential candidate and making a professional judgement. 

Armenian presidential elections will be held in Armenia on February 18. Eight nominees are running for president: current president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and head of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan, famous Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan, philologist Vardan Sedrakyan and leader of National Consent party Aram Harutinyan. -0-