YEREVAN. – It will be bizarre for Armenia’s presidential contender, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic former FM Arman Melikyan if fellow candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound after an assassination attempt—does not petition to the Constitutional Court with a request to postpone, for at least two weeks, the presidential election slated for February 18. Melikyan himself stated this during a press conference on Tuesday.

He noted that the two-week term was a requirement for recovery, and if this is not done, that means pressures were made.      

“I saw that people representing a variety of interests are attempting to convince what is the meaning [of postponing the vote], why it is necessary. Let Hayrikyan decide without external pressure,” Melikyan said. 

Also, he stated that he does not consider the incident that occurred with Hayrikyan to be an election campaign.

“This was not a campaign of platforms; this was a campaign of pity. I am confident that Paruyr Hayrikyan is person with stamina that would not want [for people] to vote for him out of pity,” Arman Melikyan 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 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.