Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Leader of Heritage opposition party Raffi Hovhannisyan, who lost the presidential elections in Armenia, has decided to end the hunger strike, which he has held since March 10 to protest against the March 31 election results, Armenian report says.

Seven candidates had joined the election race on Feb.18. According to official data announced on Feb.25, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan won with 58.64 percent of the votes. Heritage leader Hovhannisyan ranked second with 36.74 percent.

Hovhannisyan came out of his tent in Freedom Square in central Yerevan and thanked all those who supported him. He also thanked the journalists who covered the events at the Freedom Square.

"I want to thank my family members who supported me during these days. I'm also grateful to all policemen who, with the exception of some minor incidents, performed their duty well," Hovhannisyan said, adding he would continue his political struggle the next day [Apr.1], RIA Novosti reported.

Hovhannisyan did not recognize the election results and appealed to the Constitutional Court together with another presidential hopeful Andreas Ghukasyan seeking to annul the election results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) on March 4, however Armenia's Constitutional Court has announced a rejection of the pleas of them.

He almost every day held rallies of his supporters demanding to recognize him as the president.

"This is not a struggle of a single man, not a one'sregeneration, but a struggle and regeneration of whole people, especially the younger generation. The changes happened in their minds, I am glad that our future is in good hands, " Hovhannisyan said, thanking to those volunteers who were with him day and night.

Answering to the question what the hunger strike gave to his struggle, Hovhannisyan replied: "Regeneration of homeland and trust". He added that the Armenian nation is entering a new phase, when you need to get rid of all kinds of negative remarks and evaluations.

Hovhannisyan also reminded that the next meeting was scheduled for April 5, when 'it would be necessary to prepare for the inauguration of a new Armenia.'

Hovhannisyan further emphasized that his proposal to meet with Sargsyan is in force, but excluded its holding in the presidential residence.