Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

The leader of an Armenian-Russian public organization has expressed his intention to give up the struggle for the post of Armenian president, citing financial concerns, newsarmenia.ru website reported on Thursday.

Robert Aharonian submitted documents to the Central Election Commission for registration as a presidential candidate, but did not pay the election pledge of 8 million drams (about $20,000). The CEC gave Aharonian and seven other candidates 48 hours to pay the deposit to finalize the necessary documents.

Thus, the deadline for candidates was 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 10.

"I deem it meaningless to spend so much money on elections," Aharonian told a press conference.

Earlier two people submitting documents to the CEC for registration as presidential candidates - self-nominated Pavlik Sargsyan and Robert Simonian - refused to pay the electoral pledge considering it unconstitutional, News-Armenia reported.

A day earlier, two more candidates-- the president of the Armenian Combat Karate Kobudo Federation Taron Abrahamian and member of the Prosperous Armenia party, lawyer Ruben Aivazian - decided not to run for president.

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

Presidential elections will be held in Armenia on February 18, 2013. The registration of candidates is held between January 4-14. Pre-election campaign will begin on January 21 and will run until midnight, February 16.

Incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan is considered to be the frontrunner of the upcoming election. The Sargsyan-led Republican Party of Armenia nominated his candidacy for president on Dec.15, 2012.

The former PM, leader of the Freedom party Grant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and chairman of the Heritage party Raffi Ovanisian, well-known dissident in the Soviet period, chairman of the National Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan, and political analyst Andreas Ghukasyan are among the candidates.

The head of the Armenian CEC Tigran Mukuchyan said that only one local organization has applied to the electoral body for fulfilment of a monitoring mission, Mediamax agency reported.

He also noted that the same international organizations that monitored the parliamentary elections last year will observe the presidential poll on February 18.

The observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights will soon arrive in Yerevan; observers from the European Parliament, and the CIS countries are also expected, he said.