A suspect in the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan has been detained in Armenia, Armenian Shant TV channel said on Friday.
'According to preliminary data, last night a person who is alleged to have made an attempt on Hayrikian's life was arrested', a statement posted on TV channel's website said.
The attempt on presidential candidate occurred on the evening of January 31.
National Security Service (NSS) Press Secretary Artsvin Baghramyan told Interfax that NSS will make a relevant statement in the near future.
The candidate for presidency of Armenia, Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder in Tpagrichneri Street (Pechatniki) in the centre of Yerevan, where his parents reside.
Legal proceedings were instituted under Article 34-305 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The investigation is conducted by National Security Service.
According to the Constitution of Armenia, in the event of insurmountable obstacles for a candidate, the election of the president is postponed for two weeks.
The sixth Armenian presidential election will be held on 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.