YEREVAN.- The attack on presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was targeted at Armenia’s statehood, President Serzh Sargsyan during a campaign meeting with voters in the town of Masis on Monday.  

“I am happy to see that my partner Parutyr Hayrikyan is gradually recovering. This was a real challenge. I am confident we will overcome it, being strong and consolidated,” he said.   

President said the crime was aimed to hamper Armenia’s progress but it is necessary to go ahead, Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reports from Masis.

“It had a goal to infract the natural course of electoral process. But, we will not permit it. We must be guided by the Constitution. I assure you that our actions will be in compliance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution,” 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 January 31 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 on the morning of February 1, 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.