YEREVAN. – Armenia’s presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering, at capital city Yerevan’s Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center, from a gunshot wound after an assassination attempt—left the hospital Wednesday for several hours. A hospital representative told this Armenian News-NEWS.am, and added that the security services are ensuring his safety.   

Hayrikyan left the hospital to attend the ceremony subsequent to the fortieth day of the passing of his mother.    

The hospital representative also informed that Hayrikyan’s health condition was normal last night and it did not worsen. He will return in several hours. The presidential candidate is undergoing physiotherapy to eliminate the lethargy in his hand.      

To note, Hayrikyan had left the hospital before, too. First, he had gone home to see his relatives and, also, he had attended his representatives’ press conference on Tuesday. 

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Paruyr Hayrikyan announced Tuesday that he will not petition to the Constitutional Court with a formal request to postpone the presidential election, and therefore the vote will be conducted on February 18, as planned. Hayrikyan explained his reason for this by saying he does not wish to contribute to the plans to forcibly change Armenia’s political agenda.   

To note, 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.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am