Prime Minister Karen Karapetian admitted Friday he may not be eligible to be a candidate for the Republican party in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia.

The Armenian Constitution stipulates that only citizens who have resided permanently in the country for four years may go to the National Assembly. Karapetian worked in Russia from 2011 until President Serge Sarkisian appointed him Prime Minister in September 2016.

Karapetian commented on the issue at a press conference held in his office. “I have been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for five years and I lived outside Yerevan,” he said. “Does the constitutional restriction take this into account? Can I be on the Republican Party’s list of electors? I do not know the answer to that question yet. “

“If it turns out that the Constitution does not recognize this residence in Armenia, then I will not be on the list of the Republican party,” added Karapetian.

Armen Ashotian, vice-president of the ruling party, also acknowledged on Wednesday that the prime minister can not be legally allowed to attend Parliament. But he said Karapetian will retain his post if the HHK wins the elections scheduled for April 2.

Naira Zohrabian, president of the prosperous Armenian party (BHK), said Friday that Karapetian had already decided not to participate in the elections. She said the HHK was ready to violate the law and register her as a candidate, but the Prime Minister rejected this option.

“It is certainly Karen Karapetian’s personal decision not to allow the Republican Party to commit a new act of fraud,” Zohrabian said.

Speaking to journalists, Karapetian again indicated that he would like to remain Prime Minister after the end of President Sarkisian’s term in April 2018 if his government succeeded in improving the economic situation in Armenia.

“Am I prone to be Prime Minister after April 2018? Yes, if we work productively and if the Republican Party wins the April elections, “he said.

Sarkisian has not yet clarified what he will do after the end of his last presidential term. He refused to rule out the possibility of becoming Prime Minister.