Armenian Constitutional Court Rejects Hovannisian's Claims

Raffi Hovannisian has gone on hunger strike.

YEREVAN -- Armenia's Constitutional Court has rejected a claim by defeated presidential candidate Raffi Hovannisian that last month's election was rigged.

The court upheld the decision by Armenia's Central Election Commission, which said there were no legal violations during the vote.

On March 10, Hovannisian went on hunger strike and called for incumbent President Serzh Sarkisian to step down.

According to official results, Sarkisian won with more than 58 percent of the vote, while Hovannisian placed second with nearly 37 percent.

Hovannisian's camp has alleged a range of electoral violations.

Since the election, the opposition has held several peaceful rallies to protest against alleged vote-rigging.

Sarkisian is expected to be inaugurated as president on April 9.