YEREVAN. – Armenia’s ex-presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, who was wounded as a result of an assassination attempt, will undergo another surgery, Hayrikyan himself told Armenian News-NEWS.am.   

He further informed that the pain in his right hand continues and even the painkillers are useless.

“My right hand is one-hundred percent crippled,” he noted. 

The former presidential contender said it was found out that his nervous system is damaged.   

“They told me that a very serious surgical intervention is needed, but no one can perform this in Armenia,” Hayrikyan said.

He further informed that there are respective invitations from the Netherlands and US, but he will listen to his doctors and, if necessary, he is prepared to head abroad for the surgery.

Hayrikyan added that he could even head abroad and undergo an operation next week.      

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an assassination attempt was made against former 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. 

Also, 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 February 10, Poghosyan, 46, and Harutyunyan, 40 were arrested. Both have pleaded guilty, but the motives of the assassination attempt are unclear to this day.

And on March 5, capital city Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash General Jurisdiction Court sentenced ex-presidential contender, non-party affiliate and epic poetry specialist Vardan Sedrakyan to two months in prison. He is charged with giving the directive for the failed assassination attempt against Hayrikyan.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am