YEREVAN. – A criminal case is opened in connection with the assassination attempt against Armenia’s presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, Police Public Relations and Media Department Chief Ashot Aharonyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The criminal case is launched on charges of carrying out an assassination attempt against a statesman, political or public figure, which—that is, the attempt—is carried out to end this person’s noted activities. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for 12-20 years, or life in prison.    

Aharonyan added that the National Security Service is conducting the investigation.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the assassination attempt occurred Thursday at 11:30pm in Tpagrichneri Street in downtown Yerevan. Paruyr Hayrikyan was shot in the chest and was taken to hospital.  Hayrikyan is conscious but remains in severe condition. He was taken to Surb Grigor Lusavorich medical center. He was hospitalized with a gunshot wound in the right clavicle, representative of the hospital told. He is in undergoing examination at the intensive care department.

Numerous senior officials, politicians, and other presidential contenders have come to the hospital.