Presidential candidate Andrias Ghukasyan's health status deteriorated

Armenian presidential health has deteriorated sharply after 16 days of hunger strike.

Andrias Ghukasyan declared hunger strike on January 21. Ambulance doctors discovered his blood pressure is 80/40. While visiting the candidate, NEWS.am correspondent found him lying. He is unable to talk to journalists.

Today MP from Prosperous Armenia Vardan Oskanyan visited him. Ghukasyan was not able to tell about the details of their meeting, but said he would continue hunger strike till the end of elections.

To note that Andrias Ghukasyan is conducting a hunger strike since January 21, demanding an end to the "fake elections", in particular to invalidate the registration of a chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Serzh Sargsyan.

We also note the campaign for the presidential election in Armenia was launched on January 21 and will last until February 16, 24:00 Yerevan time. Applications for self-rejection of candidates will be accepted until February 8, 2013

The sixth Armenian presidential election will be held Feb.18 from 08:00 to 20:00 local time. The head of state is elected for five years.

Those running for the presidency are the incumbent president and ruling Republican Party leader Serzh Sargsyan, former Prime Minister Grant Bagratyan, chairman of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovhannisyan, Paruyr Hayrikyan, Arman Melikyan, Andrias Ghukasyan, Vardan Setrakyan and the leader of the National Accord Party Aram Harutyunyan.