Since achieving independence, Armenia has held five presidential elections: in 1991, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2008. On February 19, 2008 the third president of Armenia was elected. The president of the Republic is elected directly by citizens of the Republic for a five-year term of office. During the elections of the president of the Republic the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia is considered as a single majoritarian constituency. Under Armenia's Constitution, a presidential candidate must win over 50 per cent of the votes cast for all candidates to be elected in the first round (by an absolute majoritarian system); otherwise the two leading candidates take part in a second round two weeks later, in which the winner is decided by simple majority (by a relative majoritarian system). The incumbent President will not be able to run again as the Constitution limits eligibility to two consecutive terms.

The nomination of presidential candidates requires these persons to have both Armenian citizenship and permanent residence in Armenia for the last ten years. The recent amendments to the Electoral Code include changes that affect the presidential election. The deposit of presidential candidates has been increased from 5 to 8 million Armenian drams (AMD) but the requirement for support signatures has been abolished. Presidential candidates can no longer be nominated by civic initiatives or coalitions. However, self-nomination of candidates has been introduced.

Artur Baghdasaryan http://www.arturpresident.am/ Rule of Law Party	Artashes Geghamyan http://www.amiab.am/ National Unity Party	Aram Harutunyan National Accord Party
Vahan Hovhannisyan http://www.vahanpresident.am/ Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiun	Tigran Karapetyan People's Party	Vazgen Manukyan http://www.vazgenmanukyan.am/ National Democratic Union
Arman Melikyan Self-nomination	Serzh Sargsyan http://www.serjsargsyan.am/ Republican Party of Armenia	Levon Ter-Petrossian http://www.levonpresident.am/ Self-nomination

On 24 February, the CEC announced final election results in an extraordinary session: Serzh Sargsyan (862,369 votes), Levon Ter-Petrossian (351,222), Arthur Baghdasaryan (272,427), Vahan Hovhannisyan (100,966), Vazgen Manukyan (21,075), Tigran Karapetyan (9,792), Artashes Geghamyan (7,524), Arman Melikyan (4,399), and Aram Harutiunyan (2,892). The CEC declared that Serzh Sargsyan had won the election with 52.8 per cent of the vote; Mr. Ter-Petrossian received 21.5 percent and Arthur Baghdasaryan 16.7 per cent.

Arthur Baghdasaryan stated that the legitimacy of the election was put in question by many irregularities. Fourth-placed candidate Vahan Hovhannisyan stepped down as Deputy Speaker of Parliament citing election irregularities, although his party stated later it would not dispute the results. Fifth-placed candidate Vazgen Manukian also claimed election violations had occurred.

Levon Ter-Petrossian filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court seeking to invalidate the election results. A case was also filed by sixth-placed candidate Tigran Karapetyan. The Court rejected the cases on March 8.

Levon Ter-Petrossian claimed "widespread falsification and violations" during the election and insisted that he had won the election. During nine days following the elections, peaceful demonstrations took place on the Opera square, in Yerevan. On 1 March, the national police and military forces tried to disperse the protesters. Clashes occurred between the police forces and the demonstrators in front of Miasnikian's monument and the French Embassy, which resulted in the death of ten persons. That same night, the President declared State of Emergency in the capital Yerevan for a period of twenty days. On March 2, the National Parliament endorsed the Presidential decree on Declaration of state of emergency. The decree on the state of emergency established inter alia the ban on meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and other mass events.

On 17 March 2008, in the course of an extraordinary session, the Armenian parliament adopted in first and second reading the "law on amending and supplementing the Republic of Armenia law on conducting meetings, assemblies, rallies and demonstrations." This law was promulgated by the President of the Republic and entered into force on 19 March 2008.

International and regional intergovernmental actors - comprising the UN Secretary General, the Council of Europe Secretary General, the Presidency of the European Union, PACE and many others expressed alarm at the human rights situation in Armenia, including in PACE Resolution 1609 (2008) On Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Armenia (17 April, 2008), PACE Resolution 1620 (2008) on the Implementation by Armenia of Assembly Resolution 1609.