Hayrikyan says detection of attempt on him started

YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan who has an assassination attempt on him last week wrote on his Facebook page that the crime detection has started.

The politician was shot in his shoulder at the center of Yerevan on January 31, around 23:30 local time. He was successfully operated in hospital the next day. Criminal prosecution was 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). A joint group of the police and the national security service staffs was set up for investigation. The case comes under the jurisdiction of the national security service.

“I have good news for honest Armenians and bad news for dregs and windbags. I can’t tell a lot. The detection has started. I believe there will be also some official information”, Hayrikyan said.

Hayrikyan also said that he is recovering from his gunshot wound, but still feels pain, and that his right hand still doesn’t work.

“Twice I was given painkiller injections to be able to sleep at night, I am against it though. I still have unbearable pain”, the candidate wrote on his page.

First, Hayrikyan intended to apply to the country’s constitutional court for postponing the presidential elections for two weeks, but later, Monday, he told a press conference that we would not be doing it.

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. If such obstacles are not eliminated within two-week time, new elections are scheduled and the vote is held on the fortieth day after expiry of the above two-week term.

Armenian presidential elections will be held in Armenia on February 18. Eight nominees are running for president: 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-