Azernews.Az

The Armenian Central Election Commission (CEC) at an extraordinary session on Tuesday decided to give an additional 48 hours to presidential candidates to pay their electoral pledges and complete necessary documents, Trend news agency reported referring to Armenia Today.

Thus, the deadline for candidates is 14:00 on January 10.

Presidential elections will be held in Armenia on February 18. In general, 15 candidates have submitted applications. However, pledge payment receipts of 8 million drams (about $20,000) were presented by only 7 of the 15 candidates.

Two citizens submitting documents to the CEC for registration as presidential candidates - self-nominated Pavlik Sargsyan and Robert Simonian - refused to pay the electoral pledge, News Armenia reported.

During the CEC meeting, Sargsyan and Simonian called the provision of the Armenian Electoral Code introducing the electoral pledge of 8 million drams for the registration of presidential candidate unconstitutional.

According to the candidates, this provision is contrary to the constitutional right of every citizen to vote and to be elected, thus depriving needy citizens from exercising their civil rights.

The head of the CEC, Tigran Mukuchyan noted that the law sets clear criteria according to which citizens can apply for the post of head of state, and those criteria are the same for everyone without exceptions.