YEREVAN.- Suspects in assassination attempt on former presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan will stay in custody for another two months.

Measure of restraint of suspects Khachatur Poghosyan and Samvel Harutyunyan was prolonged on Wednesday, spokesperson for National Security Service Artsvin Baghramyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Meanwhile, the Sirunyan Law Office representing former presidential contender Vardan Sedrakyan, who is also involved in the case, dismissed press reports saying he had pleaded guilty.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Armenian capital city Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash General Jurisdiction Court on March 5 sentenced Vardan Sedrakyan to two months in prison. The National Security Service had filed a petition to have Sedrakyan incarcerated.  

The former presidential candidate is charged with giving the directive for the failed assassination attempt against fellow ex-presidential contender, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman, Paruyr Hayrikyan. 

To note, 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. 

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. Incidentally, both men had carried out remodeling in Vardan Sedrakyan’s home. 

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am