Head of Armenian CEC: Decision on postponement of presidential election can only be made by Constitutional Court

The decision on postponement of presidential election can only be made by the Constitutional Court, head of Armenian Central Election Commission (CEC) Tigran Mukuchyan said, News-Armenia reported.

Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder on Tpagrichneri Street in the centre of Yerevan where his parents reside.

"According to the legislation, a presidential candidate is entitled to apply to the Constitutional court with a statement on insuperable obstacles to participation in the elections, and the court must consider the statement within 4 days," Mukuchyan said.

Chairman of Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs David Harutyunyan said that the Armenian Central Election Commission has no authority to make a decision on the postponement of elections without a procedure initiated by Hayrikyan.

According to the Constitution of Armenia, in the event of insurmountable obstacles for a candidate, a presidential election will be postponed for two weeks. If during this period obstacles are deemed insurmountable, a new election date is announced and voting is held following the fortieth day after the expiration of the two-week period.