Armenian Opposition Chief on Hunger Strike Over Lost Election

March 10, 2013

YEREVAN, Armenia — Former Armenian presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian began a hunger strike on Sunday, calling on President Serzh Sargsyan to resign and accusing him of rigging his re-election last month.

Hovannisian, leader of the opposition Heritage Party, took 37 percent of the vote in the Feb. 18 election, while Sargsyan was declared the victor with 58.6 percent. Hovannisian objected and filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court.

"This is not just a hunger strike, but a boycott against lies and fraud," Hovannisian told hundreds of his supporters at a rally in the capital Yerevan's central Freedom square.

The Constitutional Court was to start considering Hovannisian's complaint on Monday. The central election commission said last month that there were no legal violations during the vote that could have influenced the outcome.

(Reuters)

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue