YEREVAN.- CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha called “very serious” an assassination attempt on presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan.

“It is a very serious incident ahead of the elections,” he said during a space bridge on Friday. However, Bordyuzha stressed it is necessary to clarify the details first.

CSTO head expressed confidence that Armenia’s law enforcers will soon solve the case and find the guilty.

He is also confident that the incident would not destabilize situation in Armenia.

It is sad that the incident occurred ahead of the elections but it cannot be a reason for postponing the vote, Bordyuzha added.

“I have just returned from there [Armenia] and can say that the election campaign is going very smoothly and calmly, within decency and democratic norms, differing from the campaigns in other states by its accuracy and constructiveness. I hope it will continue so,” he said.

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