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ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE RECOVERS AFTER SHOOTING
YEREVAN, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - Armenian presidential candidate
Paruyr Hayrikyan is recovering from surgery after he was shot in
the shoulder in an apparent assassination attempt on Thursday, the
country's media said on Friday.
The 63-year-old leader of the Union for National Self-Determination
was attacked near his house in the capital Yerevan late on Thursday.
Shortly after the attack, Hayrikyan was taken to hospital where he
underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his shoulder early on Friday.
"The surgery has been successful. Hayrikyan is still under anesthesia,"
Novosti-Armenia news agency said, adding he is in a stable condition
according to doctors.
The motive for the attack is yet unknown. An investigation is underway.
Hayrikyan is one of eight candidates standing in Armenia's February
18 presidential election, which analysts predict is likely to return
incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan for a second term.
Vladimir Zakharov, who heads the Black Sea and Caspian Region Institute
for Political Research, said the attack on Hayrikyan was a "political
trick" by the weak Armenian opposition as incumbent President Sargsyan
has no actual contenders.
"The assassination attempt on candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan could be used
as an excuse to delay the presidential vote," Zakharov was quoted by
panarmenian.net as saying.
Armenian parliament speaker Ovik Abramian, who described the attack
as a blow to the country's "freedom and independence," has not denied
the elections might be rescheduled.
According to Armenia's constitution, elections can be delayed for
two weeks if a candidate faces "circumstances of insuperable force."
Such a delay would have to be initially requested by the candidate
himself, and then it is up to the country's Constitutional Court
to decide on the issue, said David Arutunyan, who chairs Armenia's
parliamentary commission on legal issues.
Hayrikyan's campaign headquarters said it will make an official
statement on Saturday on his plans.
From: A. Papazian
YEREVAN, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - Armenian presidential candidate
Paruyr Hayrikyan is recovering from surgery after he was shot in
the shoulder in an apparent assassination attempt on Thursday, the
country's media said on Friday.
The 63-year-old leader of the Union for National Self-Determination
was attacked near his house in the capital Yerevan late on Thursday.
Shortly after the attack, Hayrikyan was taken to hospital where he
underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his shoulder early on Friday.
"The surgery has been successful. Hayrikyan is still under anesthesia,"
Novosti-Armenia news agency said, adding he is in a stable condition
according to doctors.
The motive for the attack is yet unknown. An investigation is underway.
Hayrikyan is one of eight candidates standing in Armenia's February
18 presidential election, which analysts predict is likely to return
incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan for a second term.
Vladimir Zakharov, who heads the Black Sea and Caspian Region Institute
for Political Research, said the attack on Hayrikyan was a "political
trick" by the weak Armenian opposition as incumbent President Sargsyan
has no actual contenders.
"The assassination attempt on candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan could be used
as an excuse to delay the presidential vote," Zakharov was quoted by
panarmenian.net as saying.
Armenian parliament speaker Ovik Abramian, who described the attack
as a blow to the country's "freedom and independence," has not denied
the elections might be rescheduled.
According to Armenia's constitution, elections can be delayed for
two weeks if a candidate faces "circumstances of insuperable force."
Such a delay would have to be initially requested by the candidate
himself, and then it is up to the country's Constitutional Court
to decide on the issue, said David Arutunyan, who chairs Armenia's
parliamentary commission on legal issues.
Hayrikyan's campaign headquarters said it will make an official
statement on Saturday on his plans.
From: A. Papazian