In ten days after the official campaign period the ARF candidate Vahan Hovhannisyan organized a press conference and announced that he was not going to give up with his candidacy and give his votes to any other candidate.
According to V. Hovhannisyan, the authorities are spreading rumors that the ARF is from their team and all the votes given to the ARF will be given to them. “It is not true, it is a wrong legend. I will not resign my candidacy whatever happens. I will go till the end and I will struggle, I will not give any votes to anyone since I will compete in the second round too. Accordingly, in answer to such questions I am saying that I will not give my votes to anyone. Our votes are with us and we will win,” said presidential candidate Vahan Hovhannisyan in answer to the questions concerning the possibility of resigning his candidacy.
Concerning the campaign in favor of a candidate, which is done with many cars, Vahan Hovhannisyan said that they are the participants of their meetings. “It is a fact since Sako from Talin would not be beaten if he were surrounded by citizens of Talin. It means that something external has been brought into the field, which has dominating role. I am not joking because it is clear that such bad things can’t be acceptable. Thus all candidates should instruct all their followers to be careful in their speeches and not to create conflicts,” said Vahan Hovhannisyan without saying any names. However it is clear that he means Levon Ter-Petrosyan. “There may be people from local government bodies who may do such things to show that they are loyal to their team. It can have the vice effect. I think that the candidates should be careful,” he said. Answering to a question what he thinks about the candidates who are using administrative resources for campaign purposes Vahan Hovhannisyan said, “It is not good. We clearly see that in one place the participants of campaign meetings are coming with crowds, and from other places they are brought by using administrative resources. These two things are negative things. If you have noticed we are visiting campaign sites by two or three cars. We are going there only with our campaign managers. We don’t do such things”.
Concerning the recent surveys organized by Gallup, according to which the elections may finish after the first round, Vahan Hovhannisyan said, “International famous institutions are reliable institutions, but their network of agents in Armenia does not seem to be reliable to me. I don’t know how they pay, who pays and whether they pay or no. However, I am concerned about the fact that during a seminar in Yerevan a Russian expert said that their interests are corresponding with the platform of a candidate and that they will do their best to support him. A question originates. What do they mean by saying that they will do their best? Does any other country have a right to direct any internal processes in our country? If one can, tomorrow another big country may say that their interests are corresponding with the platform of a candidate and they may be involved in the local politics too. I think that it may have the vice effect for the candidates since they are making Armenia a place of conflicts of interests. Our citizens are electing the president and we don’t care about the interests of others. It is important, but it should have no affect on our voters”. Answering to a question which factor will place a key role and whether the memories of the past will have any influence on the processes V. Hovhannisyan said, “There are no good memories from the past. The influence of the previous authorities on the processes is not conditioned by good memories, but by the fact that people are not satisfied with the existing situation. However, as the past does not justify the present, the present does not justify the past either. The most aggressive pole can’t find a solution and is advocating the power, which wants to give a payback to the authorities, they advocate the wish to break down everything as they are angry. Certainly, it seems to be good for some people, but the main electorate does not want it; everyone needs for change, but they don’t want changes through shocks. That is the reason why many people are applying to us and saying that they don’t want it continue any more and they don’t want those people who want this situation continue, but they don’t want to have it by returning the old government. In this context it is hard to say which factor is more dominating”.