Presidential election kicks off in Armenia

February 18, 2013 - 08:02 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia is electing the President today, Feb 18.

1988 polling stations opened in 41 constituencies across the republic at 8 am local time and will close at 8 pm. The total number of voters is 2 505 980.

12 international and 26 local organizations are monitoring the election process, including: the International expert Center for Electoral Systems (ICES) - 35 observers, ODIHR/OSCE - 263 observers, CIS Interparliamentary Assembly - 30 observers, CIS Monitoring Mission - 163 observers, European Parliament - 12 observers, embassies accredited to Armenia - 34 observers. The election will also be monitored by 25 representatives of Central Election Committees from foreign countries as well as heads of the Yerevan offices of the IFES, OSCE and CoE.

7 candidates are running for the post of Armenian president: chairman of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, Heritage party chairman Raffi Hovannisian, leader of Freedom party, former prime minister Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister of Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arman Melikyan, National Self-Determination Union party head Paruyr Hayrikyan, Radio Hay director Andrias Ghukasyan and literature expert Vardan Sedrakyan.