YEREVAN. – Searching for a Russian trace in the assassination attempt against Armenia’s presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union (NSU) Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound—is political erotica. Marxist Party of Armenia leader Davit Hakobyan stated this during a press conference on Wednesday.

He noted that Russia did not need this incident at all, since the Armenian-Russian relations are in a critical situation at present. Hakobyan believes that Hayrikyan’s words—that Russian imperialism might be behind his shooting—are a phrase that is transmitted from the West, and his decision to not postpone the election is a backstage deal with the authorities.    

Also, head of the Marxist Party of Armenia expressed his astonishment by such speedy recovery of the NSU leader, and noted that Hayrikyan needs at least one month to recover.

Davit Hakobyan noted that the presidential vote should have been postponed for one month, as a result of the assassination attempt, and he described what happened with Hayrikyan as a “show.”  

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.