Hraparak: Bagratian prevented Zurabian from running in election

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) coordinator Levon Zurabian said in an interview with RFE/RL that “the presidential candidate Hrant Bagratian currently relying on marginal forces did not attend at the time the HAK Political Board meeting, at which the format of running in the presidential election was discussed”. In this connection Hraparak daily writes, citing its sources that the format of HAK’s running in the election was discussed twice at HAK Board meetings, during which Bagratian informed those present that he would run in the election in case of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s decision not to run for President.

“No one objected. Levon Ter-Petrosian was also informed about that during a head-to-head conversation with Bagratian. As a result, Bagratian had to postpone the congress of his party twice, after which he held a congress and announced he would run in the election on condition that he withdraw his candidacy in case of Ter-Petrosian’s decision to run. The point is that Ter-Petrosian and Zurabian had two scenarios: to back the candidacy of Gagik Tsarukian or, in case of his refusal, to field Levon Zurabian. Hrant Bagratian prevented them from doing it,” Hraparak says.