8 candidates to run for Armenia's presidential vote

YEREVAN, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Central Electoral Commission of Armenia (CEC) on Monday officially registered eight candidates for next month's presidential elections.

President Serzh Sargsyan, former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratyan and former Foreign Minister Raffi Hovhannisyan are considered favorite competitors.

Seven other people had expressed desire to run for president. However, six of them failed to submit the required documentation to the CEC while another one dropped out of the race before it started.

Armenia is scheduled to hold its presidential elections on Feb. 18. The campaigning will start on Jan. 21 and end at midnight on Feb. 16, with a "day of silence" on Feb. 17.

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