YEREVAN. – I believe the person that shot me is not Armenian. Presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan stated this during Saturday’s news briefing at the hospital where he is currently recovering from a gunshot wound.  

“I am [feeling] better than the doctors expected. It was apparent for me that those who did this [that is, the assassination attempt against him] did not do [it] against me, but rather against our people, our state. They pursue but one final objective: to break the course of our people, our state.

We know from history that it was the Russian imperialism that has dealt us the heaviest blow. We have Russian friends and we need to move our relations to a new dimension. But let us not forget that it was the Russian imperialism that forced the Artsakh [that is, Karabakh] matter upon us. They believe Armenia should never strengthen because if it strengthens, they will have to pull out their leg from those territories. But I do not think so. A strong Armenia likewise could have shared values and be able to work together. But that value should not be the interests of Russia’s imperialistic forces.        

That scoundrel [who shot me] said nothing; I believe he was not Armenian. All states have such services for special objectives. This [shooting] is not about me; they shot at each and every one of you. They had come to kill me and your right to self-determination, and there is nothing [more] paramount than self-determination,” Paruyr Hayrikyan stated in particular.   

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. 

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