Vahagn Khachaturyan elected president of Armenia

Armenia's National Assembly has elected Vahagn Khachaturyan as president in the second round of voting. He was nominated by the ruling Civil Contract party.

71 lawmakers voted for Khachaturyan. The opposition factions did not take part in the vote.

Vahagn Khachaturyan is 62. He previously served as minister of high-tech industry, and in 1992–1996 he was mayor of Yerevan.

The new president succeeds Armen Sarkissian, who resigned in January. The presidential term is seven years.