PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO CHALLENGE ELECTION LAW AMENDMENT

ARMENPRESS
Jan 22, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS: A presidential candidate, Arman
Melikian, will ask the country’s Constitutional Court to repeal a
provision of the election law that bans Armenian citizens living
outside the country from taking part in national elections.

Speaking at a news conference today Arman Melikian, who served briefly
as foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, said denying Armenian citizens
living abroad the right to vote was illegal.

The candidate said he knows for sure that many Armenians living
now outside their country would vote for him if the law’s provision
were cancelled.

"I think that a sizeable portions of Armenians outside the country
would vote fro me in the February 19 presidential election and
depriving me of their support is illegal. This is why my interests
of a presidential candidate are violated and the election process is
jeopardized,’ he said.

He said his application to the Constitutional Court was being
elaborated and would be sent in in a week.

According to an amendment made in the election law last year Armenian
national elections shall be held only within the Republic of Armenia.