YEREVAN. – Armenia’s numerous senior officials, and social and political figures are continuing to visit, at the hospital, presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, who sustained a gunshot wound as a result of Thursday’s assassination attempt against him.    

PM Tigran Sargsyan, Health Minister Derenik Dumanyan, and several others visited him again on Friday. 

Sargsyan told news reporters that Hayrikyan’s mood is quite high because he likewise senses that his health condition is improving. 

“Thank God, the post-operation recovery process is going much faster than we expected. We spoke with him, he was in a good mood; he was cracking jokes,” he said. 

In the PM’s words, Hayrikyan gives glory to God that the angles helped [him]. Also, the presidential contender had told Sargsyan how everything had transpired. But he made no assessment yet and noted that he had no enemies. 

Reflecting on the chances of postponing the presidential election that is slated for February 18, Sargsyan said the current phase of Hayrikyan’s recovery is extremely important. In the PM’s words, Hayrikyan will express his view, with respect to when he will be ready to engage once again in the electoral process, and this will depend on the course of the current recovery phase.   

“Naturally, we are in constant contact with all the services, [and] no supposition is ruled out at present,” the PM noted. 

Tigran Sargsyan underscored that they need to do everything so that a level playing field is established for all presidential contenders and that the pre-election phase is not hindered.   

“We, as the authorities, will do everything so that this precept of equality is not hindered and, in this sense, Paruyr Hayrikyan’s view will be extremely important. We, as the government, will do everything to ensure the safety of [presidential] candidates, and this matter is at our focus. We will take additional steps in this direction,” Armenia’s premier 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, in front of his home. Hayrikyan was shot and hospitalized with a gunshot wound . He underwent a successful 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.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am