Raffi Hovannisian Declares Hunger Strike Until Sargsyan Resigns

• Monday, March 11, 11:49

 Leader of Heritage Party Raffi K.Hovannisian, who took thesecond place in the Feb 18 presidential election in Armenia and did not recognized the voting result,
declared hunger strike starting March 10.

Before thousands at Liberty Square Raffi K. Hovannisian declared a hunger strike until Serzh Sargsyan resigns and formally concedes the Armenian people's victory in the February 18 presidential election, Hovannisian's Headqaurters reported.

"If on April 9, the Archbishop puts Serzh Sargsyan's hand on the Bible and in the name and breath of God swears in a false president, he will do so over my dead body," Hovannisian said.

Hovannisian announced that he will not leave Liberty Square during the strike and that any de facto authority, including Sargsyan, who wishes to meet with him must do so at the square. Before making his way to his strike spot on a square bench, he urged people not think of this as a typical hunger strike. "This is a fraud strike, a fear strike, a lie strike," he said.

During the rally in Liberty Square, parallel rallies were held in Artashat and Kapan at which Raffi Hovannisian's representatives addressed the public, the source reported.

Today, on March 11, the Armenian Constitutional Court will hear the case of Raffi Hovannisian's claim against the Central Election Committee to nullify the official results of the February 18 election. The court session begins at 10 am.

Raffi Hovannisian: "This is a fraud strike, a fear strike, a lie strike."

According to the official results, the winner is incumbent President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan with 58.64% of the votes or 861,373 votes, the runner-up the leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian - 36.75% or 539,693.

Hovannisian refuses to accept these figures and is holding protest actions.