Hayrikyan walks out of hospital room on his own to talk with visitors

YEREVAN, February 4. /ARKA/. Candidate for Armenia’s president Paruyr Hayrikyan who was operated Friday after an assassination attempt on him walked out independently from his hospital room, despite doctors’ recommendations, to talk to his family, friends and reporters, Novosti-Armenia Agency reported.

According to doctors, Hayrikyan’s condition is satisfactory; the stitches will be removed on the 6th or the 7th day. Hayrikyan had no pain, his blood pressure wan within normal range and he had no temperature on Saturday. Hayrikyan said he felt good and responded to doctor’s urge not to get up with “everyone is his own doctor”.

Hayrikyan informed that he has not made a final decision about postponement of the vote, and will also have to file an application with the Constitutional Court.

Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder in the center of Yerevan, Tpagrichneri street, where his parents live, around 23:30 Thursday night. A couple of our after his surgery he told journalists that he would have to ask for a two-week postponement of the elections for rehabilitation.

According to Armenia’s Constitution article N 52, presidential elections may be postponed for a two-week period if insurmountable obstacles occur on the way of any presidential nominee. 

Criminal prosecution is brought under Penal Code articles 34-305 (assassination attempt on a statesman, a political or a public figure for the purpose of ceasing his activities is punished with imprisonment for ten to fifteen years or life imprisonment).

A joint investigation group involving staffs of the police and the national security service has been set up; the case comes under the jurisdiction of the national security service.

Armenia’s presidential elections are scheduled for February 18. Eight nominees are running for presidency: current president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister and leader of Freedom party Hrant Bagratyan, former foreign minister and head of Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisyan, famous Soviet dissident and leader of National Self-Determination party Paruyr Hayrikyan, ex foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, political scientist and head of Radio Hay Andrias Ghukasyan, philologist Vardan Sedrakyan and leader of National Consent party Aram Harutinyan. -0-