Former presidential candidate Andreas Ghoukasyan told Hetq that the ruling Republican Party had won today’s Yerevan municipal elections at the very moment the other parties agreed to participate without any of them disputing the right of the ruling party to take part.

“It is apparent to all that the Republican Party is involved in voter fraud and a sponsor of corruption. Thus, when the opposition recognizes the right of such a political force to enter the election they have already lost,” said Ghoukasyan.

Nevertheless, Ghoukasyan said he would be exercising his right to vote given that only when citizens defend their ballot could anything change, adding that the authorities are doing everything to convince citizen’s that the right to vote isn’t all that important.

“This is just the latest round of fake elections that are destroying the country and leading to the loss of independence. If the people do not attempt to change the course of events, to resist this situation where we concede our right to vote to others, to outside forces and to internal criminal gangs, then we will lose that value which we have achieved historically, our independence and sovereignty,” he argued.