YEREVAN -- The leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), successful businessman Gagik Tsarukian, has announced his decision not to run as a candidate in the country's upcoming presidential election.
The BHK statement on December 12 said the party would not field a presidential candidate or support any other contender in the election scheduled for February 18.
BHK spokesman Tigran Urikhanian confirmed the decision to RFE/RL, but gave no clear explanation for it.
Tsarukian's move comes after his meeting last weekend with President Serzh Sarkisian.
Details of the talks were not made public.
Tsarukian's party is the second-largest in parliament after Sarkisian's Republican Party.
The BHK statement on December 12 said the party would not field a presidential candidate or support any other contender in the election scheduled for February 18.
BHK spokesman Tigran Urikhanian confirmed the decision to RFE/RL, but gave no clear explanation for it.
Tsarukian's move comes after his meeting last weekend with President Serzh Sarkisian.
Details of the talks were not made public.
Tsarukian's party is the second-largest in parliament after Sarkisian's Republican Party.