Arman Melikian: We will not boycott election; we will say it is illegal

“The competent bodies do not ensure legitimacy of the election, therefore, by involving the public, we can state that the election is illegitimate and declare it illegal,” former Foreign Minister of the NKR, presidential candidate Arman Melikian told Aysor.am, when discussing the presidential election, the election campaign, and the decision of Central Election Commission.

Let us remind you that Arman Melikian had asked CEC to provide information about people with dual citizenship who received Armenian citizenship, people who left Armenia, and those who gave up Armenian citizenship. However, by a decision of the CEC, the application on persons who received Armenian citizenship and those who gave it up was forwarded by CEC to the Police Passport and Visa Department.

As regards the application’s part on information about people who left Armenia since Armenia’s independence, CEC rejected it, noting that provision and publication of such information is outside its competence.

“We don’t want to follow this path, we proposed cooperating with authorities, but by its decision, CEC has actually rejected our proposal. Yet I think we will be able to turn this problem into a political one,” Melikian said, expressing hope that authorities will deal with the problem seriously and properly and he will continue running in the election.

When asked, whether - unless this happens - it will mean that they are boycotting the election, Melikian said it will mean that they consider the election illegal.