Candidate for Armenia’s president Hayrikyan taken to resuscitation unit after surgery

YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. Candidate for Armenia’s president, leader of National Self-Determination Party Paruyr Hayrikyan who survived an assassination attempt Thursday night has been transferred to resuscitation department after the operation, Novosti-Armenia reported.

Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder in the center of Yerevan, Tpagrichneri street, where his parents live, around 23:30 yesterday. 

He is still on anaesthesia from the surgery, but doctors say he is in a satisfactory condition, Hayrikyan’s relative Hayk Abrahamyan said.

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-