YEREVAN. – The court hearing into the case on the assassination attempt against Paruyr Hayrikyan reconvened on Friday.

The defendants in the case are former presidential contender Vardan Sedrakyan as well as Khachatur Poghosyan and Samvel Harutyunyan.

Taxi driver Karen Zakaryan, who allegedly drove Khachatur Poghosyan away after he shot Hayrikyan, testified that he does not remember Poghosyan, the Sirunyan Law Office told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Defendant Samvel Harutyunyan, on the other hand, announced that Sedrakyan has no connection with the assassination attempt, and that they had given false testimony against him.

In his turn, Sedrakyan’s attorney, Aleksandr Sirunyan, stated that the prosecution has not yet submitted the grounds for the charges that are laid against his client. In Sirunyan’s view, Sedrakyan’s connection to the assassination attempt against Hayrikyan is not only disputable, but there is no indirect evidence in this respect, either. In this case, as per the attorney, the trial cannot continue in this way.     

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman, ex-presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was wounded as a result of an assassination attempt that was staged against him on January 31 at around 11:20pm in downtown Yerevan, in front of his home, and during the campaign season for the presidential election that was held on February 18. First, he was transferred to capital city Yerevan’s Surb Grigor Lusavorich (Saint Gregory the Illuminator) Medical Center, where he was operated on. Subsequently, he was taken to the rehabilitation center of the Armenian Red Cross Society. Next, Hayrikyan headed to Belgium for treatment, and he underwent a surgery there.     

In the criminal case that was launched into this assassination attempt, ex-presidential candidate, non-party affiliate, and epic poetry specialist Vardan Sedrakyan—who is imprisoned—is charged with organizing the attempted murder of a state, political, or a public figure. Also, Khachatur Poghosyan is charged with attempted murder of a state, political, or a public figure and with illegal acquiring, possession and use of a weapon; and Samvel Harutyunyan is charged with attempted murder of a state, political, or a public figure.