February 24, 2003 - 19:19 AMT
ARTASHES GEGHAMIAN CONSIDERS ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS SECOND ROUND ILLEGITIMATE AND IS NOT GOING TO SECOND ANY CANDIDATE
Today in Yerevan leader of "National Unification" party Artashes Geghamian demanded to announce the returns of the February 19 vote invalid and called to hold new "free, fair and legal" elections. As reported by "Mediamax" agency, ranging third Artashes Geghamian stated today that he considered the holding of the second round illegitimate and thus was not going to second any of the candidates. "The elections February 19 were a farce, Robert Kocharian could not gain more than 700 thousand votes," - Artashes Geghamian said. "A person, who becomes president due to an illegal electoral process cannot be recognized legitimate and secure effective operation of the state authorities," - a statement by Geghamian's headquarters says.