Vice-speaker: Armenia’s authorities interested in detection of yesterday’s attempted murder of Paruyr Hayrikyan

YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. In the first place it is the country’s authorities who are interested in detection of yesterday’s attempted murder of Paruyr Hayrikyan, one of eight candidates in the 18 February presidential poll, Novosti – Armenia International News Agency quotes Eduard Sharmazanov, vice-speaker of Armenian National Assembly and deputy chairman of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, as saying in an interview with ArmNews TV Company. 

“This was a shot against the authorities and statehood,” he said. “I am convinced that the National Security Service and the police will make every effort to solve this crime.”

He said the assassination attempt was committed by those people who are not comfortable with a stable, safe and calm Armenia. 

Sharmazanov said that the country’s political parties should do whatever necessary to preserve positive processes and tolerance in election campaigns. 

“These presidential election campaigns are remarkable for the lack of personal insults – all the candidates are speaking about programs and ideas,” he said in his televised interview. “This shows maturity of Armenia’s statehood.”

Paruyr Hayrikyan, a presidential candidate, was shot and wounded in a central city Yerevan yesterday night at 23:30 in an assassination attempt 

The case is already under investigation. The gunman, if tracked down, will be charged with assassination attempt on a political and public activist committed to stop his activity.   

Serzh Sargsyan, the Armenian president in office; Hrant Bagratyan, a former prime minister and the leader of Freedom party; Raffi Hovannisian, a former foreign minister and the leader of Heritage party; Paruyr Hayrikyan, a prominent Soviet-era dissident and the head of the National Self-Determination Party; Arman Melikyan, a former foreign minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Andrias Ghukasyan, a political analyst and head of Radio Hay; Vardan Sedrakyan, a specialist in epics, and Aram Harutyunyan, leader of National Consent party will compete for presidency in the February 18 poll. -0-