Armenian president to visit Hayrikian at hospital

YEREVAN, February 1. / ARKA /.  Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan canceled a planned meeting with voters in Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district today, as well as ordered to halt his political advertisements  on TV and  Public Radio before  visiting another  presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikian,  who was shot and wounded yesterday late evening in Yerevan near his home, yerkir.am reported citing  the press-secretary of Sargsyan’s election headquarters Shushan Sardarian.

Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder close to his home in the capital Yerevan on Thursday night. Doctors removed the bullet on Friday and said his life was not in danger. The authorities have launched in inquiry in the case under Article 34-305 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (attempted murder of state, political or public figure to stop his/her activities).

A joint investigation group was set up including police and National Security Service officers.

The February 18 election will be contested by eight candidates - the incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, former prime minister Hrant Bagratian, ex-foreign minister Raffi Hovannisian, a Soviet time dissident Paruyr Hayrikyan, former foreign minister of Karabakh Arman Melikyan, a political analyst Andrias Ghukasyan, a businessman Vartan Sedrakian and Aram Harutyunyan, leader of a small National Unity party. -0-