YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Karen Demirjian–director of the "Armelectromash" enterprise–former first secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia announced his candidacy for the forthcoming presidential election.
Demirjian was CPA leader from 1974 to 1988. He has been director of the "Armelectromash" enterprise since 1991. Demirchian was born in Yerevan in 1932. He is married and has two sons–two daughters.
On Friday–"Hayastani Hanrapetutiun,"Aravot," and "Azg" published a statement by former chairperson of the National Security Department and presidential envoy–National Assembly member David Shahnazarian announcing his candidacy for the forthcoming election.
"We are now experiencing a 40-day crucial stage and its historical importance cannot be underestimated. Being concerned with the end result of this 40-day-long stage–I decided to take part in the presidential polls on March 16–and do everything possible in the name of free–fair–perfect elections which will be a victory for me regardless who is elected president," the statement read.
As of Friday the following nine candidates have made public their bid for the presidency: Acting President and Prime Minister Robert Kocharian; Vazgen Manoukian–member of the National Assembly and chairperson of the National-Democratic Union; Sergey Badalian–member of the National Assembly and the Communist Party of Armenia; Baruyr Hairikian–member of the National Assembly and the Self-Determination Union; Aram Sargssian–chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia; Lyudmila Harutiunian–professor–head of the Department of Sociology at the Yerevan State University; David Shahnazarian–member of the National Assembly; Karen Demirjian–former Communist Party leader–and director of the "Armelectromash" company; Vigen Khachatrian–member of the National Assembly and chairperson of the Ramkavar Party of Armenia.