YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Health Minister Derenik Dumanyan, accompanied by capital city Yerevan’s Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center Director Ara Minasyan, on Saturday visited presidential candidate, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan, who is currently recovering at the Center from a gunshot wound.   

Following his visit, Dumanyan told news reporters that everything is normal, with respect to Hayrikyan’s health, he is undergoing a treatment course at present, and he will meet with the journalists in one hour. 

“His health condition is fine, he is eating, we are hopeful that he will be discharged [from hospital] in the coming days, [and] there is nothing to worry,” the minister said. 

To note, Hayrikyan had come out of the Center’s intensive care department on foot, in the morning, and spoken with those that had gathered outside. 

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. He underwent a successful surgery Friday morning, 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.    

The National Security Service is conducting the investigation.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am