YEREVAN. – The overwhelming majority of Armenia’s contenders, which are running for president in the forthcoming election, declined from using their Friday afternoon campaign airtime on Public Radio.   

Also, the ruling Republican Party presidential candidate, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan’s campaign video was not broadcast. 

Solely the campaign materials of opposition Heritage Party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian, political scientist Andreas Ghukasyan, and Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan were aired. 

It is apparent that most presidential hopefuls’ declining from their Friday afternoon campaign airtime is linked to Thursday’s assassination attempt against fellow presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan.     

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, in front of his home. Hayrikyan was shot and hospitalized with a gunshot wound . He underwent a surgery Friday morning, and a bullet—which was located in the soft tissues of his right elbow shoulder—was removed. 

Numerous senior officials, politicians, and other presidential contenders are coming to the hospital to visit him.

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.