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Presidential elections were held in Armenia on 18 February 2013. In the run-up to the elections, Armenia's first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the second largest parliamentary party Prosperous Armenia, withdrew from the race in December 2012. Many believed that no candidate would be able to challenge incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, others stated that people see "absence of alternatives" and these factors caused great apathy among the public.[1][2]
On 31 January 2013, candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot, but he recovered soon and urged two other main opposition candidates Raffi Hovannisian and Hrant Bagratyan to unite around a single opposition candidate, in order to defeat President Sargsyan. On 10 February, he appealed to the Constitutional Court with a request to postpone the election for 14 days and stated that he will take it back in case the three main opposition candidates decide to unite around a single candidate, but he withdrew the appeal the next day.
The elections resulted in a victory for incumbent President Sargsyan, who received 59% of the vote. Hovannisian came second with 37%, while the other candidates earned less than 4% of the total vote.
Sargsyan's main opponent Raffi Hovannisian claimed victory due to alleged electoral fraud. In days following the election, mass protests take place both in Yerevan (Freedom Square in particular) and other cities and towns throughout Armenia. Hovannisian urged Sargsyan to accept "people's victory" and concede his defeat.[3] Hovannisian called the movement 'Barevolution', a portmanteau of 'barev' (բարև, 'hello') and 'revolution', referring to his habit of walking up to people and greeting them during the election campaign.[4][5]
Although several countries (including the US, Russia, France, Iran, Turkey) congratulated Sargsyan on winning reelection, a number of influential politicians and political parties in Armenia (including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, former Prime Ministers Aram Sargsyan and Hrant Bagratyan who came in third, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian,[6] MP Nikol Pashinyan, Andrias Ghukasyan who came in fifth during the election) have publicly stated that Hovannisian had won the election and the official results are a product of electoral fraud.
On 10 March 2013, Hovannisian started a hunger strike in Freedom Square.[7] On 14 March 2013, the Constitutional Court of Armenia issued a verdict confirming the victory of President Sargsyan.[8] Hovannisian ended his hunger strike on 31 March 2013.[9] A clash occurred between Hovannisian's supporters and the police forces on Baghramyan Avenue.
- ^ Julia Hakobyan (5 February 2013). "Vote 2013: Political perspectives, platforms, promises". Vote 2013. ArmeniaNow.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
- ^ "Apathy before the presidential election". 1in.am. 19 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 November 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
- ^ "Thousands protest in Armenia after president re-elected". Reuters. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ^ "Is Armenia On The Brink Of A 'Barevolution'?". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Color Coding: "Orange" or "rose" or "apricot", "Barevolution" is re-shaping definition of post-election conflict in Armenia". ArmeniaNow. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Oskanian backs Hovannisian's protest, calls for resignation of government". ArmeniaNow. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ "Armenian opposition chief on hunger strike over lost election". Reuters. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ "Decision 2013: Highest Court upholds Sargsyan victory". ArmeniaNow. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ "Hovannisian ends hunger strike, attends Easter Service". ArmeniaNow. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.