YEREVAN. – Armenian presidential candidate, non-party affiliate, epic poetry specialist Vardan Sedrakyan confirmed the information that the two people, who are arrested on suspicion of carrying out an assassination attempt against fellow candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is recovering at hospital from a gunshot wound—, had taken part in the remodeling of his home. Sedrakyan himself told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.  

But he did not comment on the information that he had also presented a vehicle to one of them as a gift.

Incidentally, Sedrakyan has not been called in for questioning as of yet.

“Unless the state makes a statement on state level, I will not reflect on that topic,” Vardan Sedrakyan said, adding that he soon will hold a press conference and answer some questions at that time. 

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 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. On February 7, formerly convicted Khachatur Poghosyan, and Samvel Harutyunyan were detained on suspicion of carrying out an assassination attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan. And on Sunday, Poghosyan, 46, and Harutyunyan, 40 were arrested.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am