Armenia votes for new President

Today, on February 18, presidential elections are being held in Armenia. The elections have already kicked off. From 08.00 in the morning all polling stations are opened and voters can vote until 20:00 local time.

Those running for the presidency are the incumbent president and ruling Republican Party leader Serzh Sargsyan, former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan, chairman of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovhannisyan, "National Self-Determination" union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, NKR former Minister of Foreign Affairs Arman Melikyan, "Radiohay" LLC director Andrias Ghukasyan and epic poetry specialist Vardan Setrakyan.

"National Accord" party leader Aram Harutyunyan rejected from participating in the elections on Feb. 8. Earlier, he went on a hunger strike in front of the republican Central Election Commission within one day.

Andreas Ghukasyan and Arman Melikyan went on hunger strike since the beginning of the campaign and will not vote.

The Central Election Commission has registered 6,883 observers, of which 6,251 represent 26 local public organizations and 632 observers from 12 international organizations.