YEREVAN. – The surgery of Armenian presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is at capital city Yerevan’s Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center as a result of a gunshot wound—is over. But the surgeons have not yet come out of the operating room and said anything to news reporters.

A great number of police officers are still patrolling the reanimation ward, numerous people and journalists are waiting, and officials and public and political figures are continuing to visit the hospital. 

Presidential hopeful, opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian told news reporters that what occurred with Hayrikyan is an assassination attempt against an Armenian citizen.

“I wish happy returns to Hayrikyan, [and] express a hope that he may start again, gather strength very soon, to continue the struggle for Armenia’s independence, liberty. I stand ready to wait as long as it takes until he returns to the political arena,” he said. 

Hovannisian noted that each and every man lives on the border between life and death, and this incident should be a lesson for everyone on how to treat one another.

“I consider this to be a blow that is struck against me,” the presidential contender stated.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an assassination attempt was made against presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, on Thursday at around 11:20pm in downtown Yerevan. Hayrikyan was shot in the chest and hospitalized with a gunshot wound in the right collarbone. He is in undergoing treatment at the intensive care department.

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

A criminal case is opened in connection with the assassination attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan. It 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.    

The National Security Service is conducting the investigation.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am