Armenia’s National Security Service uploads video with 2 suspected in Hayrikyan’s assassination attempt

YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Security Service uploaded a video on YouTube showing the two suspects detained yesterday reportedly for  assassination attempt on Armenia’s presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan. 

The two detainees appear in the video in handcuffs, and are led out from the room by NSS agents in masks. 

The two individuals were detained during the search operations conducted by the National Security Service.

Thus, NSS suspects Khachatur Poghosyan, 1966, an illegal Yerevan resident who has no precise employment and was once convicted for illegal drug traffic, and Samvel Harutyunyan, 1972. 

Both detainees have already confessed, the NSS informed. The motives are currently being investigated. 

The National Security Service will be releasing new facts periodically. 

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

hospitalized where he had a successful surgery.

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.

Hayrikyan himself implied the intelligence forces of a foreign state are involved in this crime.  -0-