YEREVAN. – Armenian 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 a recent assassination attempt—is discharged on Monday, Center Deputy Director Gagik Manukyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am. 

He noted that the stitches around Hayrikyan’s wound were removed in the morning, the wound was clean, and the presidential contender is in good health.

Even though Hayrikyan is discharged from hospital, he will return on a regular basis and receive outpatient treatment.    

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the forthcoming presidential election in Armenia will be conducted on February 18, as slated. Baghdasaryan submitted Monday a new petition to the Constitutional Court and withdrew Sunday’s petition. Hayrikyan himself had told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.  

To note, Hayrikyan had initially stated that he would not petition to the court for a postponement, but he had changed his mind several times thereafter. But on Sunday he ultimately submitted to the Constitutional Court a formal request to postpone the presidential election—which is slated for February 18—for two weeks. He had noted that if the opposition’s presidential candidates are able to join forces within the next two days, he will withdraw his petition and the vote will go ahead on February 18. Otherwise, he will put off the election to carry out a full campaign.     

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