Wounded Armenian presidential candidate spoke of his assault

According to the candidate for president of Armenia, Paruyr Hayrikyan, who faced an attempt on his life last night, he was shot after getting out of the car.

Hayrikyan told details of the incident to the vice-speaker of the Armenian parliament, Eduard Sharmazanov, Novosti-Armenia agency reported.

"He (Hayrikyan) was approached by a man who fired two shots from a distance of 25-30 cm," Sharmazanov told Armnews TV channel.

According to him, Hayrikyan dodged and called for help.

Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder on Tpagrichneri street ("Pechatniki") in the center of Yerevan, where the house of his parents is located. Doctors assess the victim's condition as moderate. Apparently, the bullet was removed in the morning. Doctors at the Centre of St. Gregory the Illuminator are still consulting on time of the operation.

Legal proceedings were instituted under Article 34-305 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (attempted murder of statesman, political or public figure, committed for termination of his activities shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of ten to fifteen years or life imprisonment). A joint investigation group, consisting of law enforcement officers and the National Security Service employees, has been created. The case is under jurisdiction of the National Security Service.

According to the Constitution of Armenia, in the event of insurmountable obstacles for a candidate, the election of the president gets postponed for two weeks.
The sixth Armenian presidential election will be held Feb. 18 from 08:00 to 20:00 local time. The head of state is elected for five years.

Those running for the presidency are the incumbent president and ruling Republican Party leader Serzh Sargsyan, former Prime Minister Grant Bagratyan, chairman of the Heritage Party Raffi Hovhannisyan, Paruyr Hayrikyan, Arman Melikyan, Andrias Ghukasyan, Vardan Setrakyan and the leader of the National Accord Party Aram Harutyunyan.