Lawyer Vahan Hovhannisyan withdraws from Strong Armenia candidate list

Armenian lawyer Vahan Hovhannisyan has withdrawn his candidacy from the electoral list of the opposition Strong Armenia alliance, which finished second in the country’s June 7 parliamentary elections.

In a statement released on Monday, Hovhannisyan said he had formally requested the Central Election Commission to remove his name from the bloc’s candidate roster. He explained that he would continue his work as a lawyer and human rights defender, noting that such efforts would be “much needed in Armenia.”

“From now on I will continue my human rights and legal work, which will be very necessary in Armenia. May our Lord Jesus Christ be the protector of the nation,” Hovhannisyan wrote.