YEREVAN.- Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan, who was wounded on January 31, will be hospitalized in the next few hours.

Candidate’s aide Vrezh Zatikyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that Hayrikyan’s health deteriorated sharply. In the next few hours he will be taken to hospital. He is likely to stay there for three days. The campaign meetings in Lori Region have been canceled.

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.

Formerly convicted Khachatur Poghosyan (born in 1966), and Samvel Harutyunyan (born in 1972) were arrested on suspicion of carrying out an assassination attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan. Both pleaded guilty.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am