These elections differ sharply from all previous ones. Making any  predictions is a thankless task: Serzh Sargsyan

ArmInfo. The entire law enforcement system, especially during the last days of the campaign, was apparently instructed to use brute force against the "I Have Honor"  bloc (the alliance of the RPA and Motherland -ed. note), said the  third President of Armenia, leader of the Republican Party of Armenia  Serzh Sargsyan on June 20 after voting at the 29/45 polling station  in Dzoraghbyur.

According to him, the forces of law and order are conducting illegal  searches and detentions of members of the bloc. "I think in the  afternoon we will make an interim statement and a final one by the  end of the day," the RPA leader said, stressing that he voted in the  name of a secure, sovereign, economically developed Armenia and  Artsakh, a powerful Armenian army, inviolability of borders and  reconciliation of the Armenian society.

As the former president stated, the main problem of Armenia is to  unite the split society. "With a split society, nothing can be  achieved - neither security nor economic progress," he said.  As for  the possibility of forming a coalition with the bloc of the second  president, Robert Kocharian, he noted that they will return to this  after voting and receiving the voting results. "These elections  differ sharply from all those elections that took place in Armenia.  Therefore, making any predictions now is a thankless task," Sargsyan  said.

When asked whether "Kocharian forgave him for being promoted to prime  minister and surrendering power in 2018," he said that "only God, no  one else can forgive him."

Extraordinary elections to the National Assembly of the 8th  convocation have started in Armenia. From 08.00am local time, 2008  polling stations were opened throughout the republic in 38  territorial districts. 25 political forces are taking part in the  elections: 4 blocs and 21 parties. The elections will be held on a  100% proportional system. The entry barrier for parties is set at 5%,  for alliances - 7%. There is no turnout threshold.