Many believed that no candidate would be able to challenge incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, others stated that people see "absence of alternatives" and these factors caused great apathy among the public.

[4][5] Although several countries (including the US, Russia, France, Iran, Turkey) congratulated Sargsyan on winning reelection, a number of influential politicians and political parties in Armenia (including the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, former Prime Ministers Aram Sargsyan and Hrant Bagratyan who came in third, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian,[6] MP Nikol Pashinyan, Andrias Ghukasyan who came in fifth during the election) have publicly stated that Hovannisian had won the election and the official results are a product of electoral fraud.

Immediately after the results were announced, thousands of Ter-Petrosyan's supporters gathered in Yerevan's Freedom Square to protest against electoral fraud.

On 8 February 2013, Aram Harutyunyan, the leader of the National Conciliation Party, after a one-day hunger strike, submitted a withdrawal statement.

[17][18] One of the candidates, Andrias Ghukasyan started a hunger strike in front of the National Academy of Sciences building on 21 January 2013, demanding to "Stop Fake Elections".

Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, said: "This attack is deeply distressing in view of the electoral process already under way, and I urge all stakeholders to refrain from any actions that might further aggravate the situation.

"[22] The election could have been postponed by two weeks according to the Electoral Law of Armenia, but on 5 February 2013, Hayrikyan made it clear that he will not appeal to the Constitutional Court with such request.

[23][24][25] On 9 February 2013, the injured presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan announced about his decision to postpone the election for 14 days, using his right given by the Armenian Constitution.

His aide stated "We've applied the Constitutional Court with a request to postpone the election for two weeks due to Paruyr Hayrikyan's health problems and the fact that he can't campaign."

Moreover, the state would avoid additional expenses and the timetable of numerous observers would not be disrupted, otherwise I am obliged to hold a complete campaign during those two weeks along with the other candidates’ participation."

[31] Many have questioned the reliability of opinion polls in Armenia, including the three main opposition candidates Raffi Hovannisian,[32] Hrant Bagratyan[33] and Paruyr Hayrikyan.

The comedy show ArmComedy, named their 79th episode "Albert Adibunts",[36] referring to the head of Sociometer center, Aharon Adibekyan, who is often criticized by opposition politicians.

According to the results there, of more than 4,700 voters, President Sargsyan had only 15% of the total vote, while his main opponent Raffi Hovannisian had about 40%, Hrant Bagratyan 11% and Paruyr Hayrikyan 4%.

He also won in the cities of Ashtarak, Ijevan, Armavir, Ejmiatsin, Nor Hachn, Abovyan, Spitak, Akhuryan, Artik, Kapan, Yeghegnadzor, Noyemberyan.

[47] Raffi Hovannisian talked about the high possibility of fraud, caused by the fact that "700,000 Armenian citizens are on voter lists in the country, but work outside this impoverished nation.

"[48] Before the election campaign, the OSCE/ODIHR mission recommended the authorities to "toughen legal punishment for vote buying and other irregularities and make voter lists more accurate.

"[52] On 2 March 2013, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe election observers' report pointed out that there is "a correlation between very high turnout and the number of votes for the incumbent", which "raises concerns regarding the confidence over the integrity of the electoral process.

The opposition claims that this is a result of excessive use of administrative resources in remote rural areas and a fact that "mayors kept villagers in total fear.

Runner-up Raffi Hovannisian didn't recognize the legitimacy of the election and on the night of 18 February 2013, he claimed victory in a press conference, stating "We all know that we have won", continuing "for the first time in 20 years the citizens have said yes to our constitution, to the rule of law, to democracy and our future.

[59][60][61][62] Serj Tankian, lead singer of Grammy award-winning Armenian-American rock band System of a Down, wrote an open letter to incumbent Sargsyan saying "it's time for change" after non-government organizations reported widespread voting fraud.