YEREVAN. – Armenian presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan—who is at capital city Yerevan’s Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center as a result of a gunshot wound—needs at least seven to ten days to recover. Center Deputy Director Gagik Manukyan told news reporters on Friday. 

“He was brought yesterday [Thursday] night with a gunshot wound; the patient’s [health] condition was regulated. Once the condition was stabilized, a surgery was performed [Friday] in the morning at 10:30. The bullet—which was located in the soft tissues of the right elbow shoulder—was removed,” the physician informed.    

In Manukyan’s words, the operation went well and the patient is in satisfactory condition. Hayrikyan will wake up in several hours; he has no pain, and his blood pressure and consciousness are in normal state.

Gagik Manukyan noted that Hayrikyan will remain at the hospital’s intensive care department, but he will be transferred to the general department in two or three days.    

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an assassination attempt was made against presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, on Thursday at around 11:20pm in downtown Yerevan, in front of his home. Hayrikyan was shot and hospitalized with a gunshot wound in the right collarbone.

Numerous senior officials, politicians, and other presidential contenders are coming to the hospital.

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.    

The National Security Service is conducting the investigation.