YEREVAN. - Assassination attempt against presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan is a great blow to our country, state and authorities, said the Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan during a media briefing this Wednesday.

“We are doing our utmost for Paruyr Hayrikyan to be able to fully participate in pre-electoral activities, and for this incident not to have negative effect on his election campaign,” Prime Minister 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.