RIA Novosti, Russia
Jan 18 2008

Nine presidential candidates registered in Armenia
17:32 | 18/ 01/ 2008

YEREVAN, January 18 (RIA Novosti) – Armenian election authorities
have registered nine candidates for the country’s presidential
elections to be held on February 19, a spokesman said.

The candidates to replace President Robert Kocharyan, currently
serving his final and second term, are:

Artur Bagdasaryan, a former speaker and now member of parliament, and
leader of the opposition party Orinats Yerkir (Rule of Law)

Levon Ter-Petrosyan, Armenia’s first president

Serzh Sarkisyan, prime minister and head of the ruling Republican
Party

Artashes Gegamyan, head of the National Unity party

Vazgen Manukyan, former premier and leader of the National Democratic
Union

Vaan Ovannesyan, deputy speaker and bureau member of the
Dashnaktsutyun

Tigran Karapetyan, head of the ALM television company

Aram Arutunyan, leader of the Soglasie (agreement) party

Arman Melikyan, former advisor to the president of breakaway Nagorny
Karabakh.

The election campaign officially kicks off on January 21 to last
until February 17.

Preliminary election results are to be announced on February 20, and
the final results will be officially made public on February 26.

Armenia held parliamentary elections on May 12. The Republican Party
and other pro-presidential parties won a majority in the polls.