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VOTE 2013: OFFICIALS SAY SHOTS AT CANDIDATE HAYRIKYAN AMOUNT TO BLOW AGAINST GOVERNMENT AND STATEHOOD
Vote 2013 | 01.02.13 | 11:14
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
The late-night shooting attack against presidential candidate, leader
of the National Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan is qualified
by many as a blow to the Armenian statehood.
The first reaction of many was shock as media provided coverage of the
incident after which the 63-year-old Soviet-era dissident was rushed
to hospital to be treated for what appeared to be a nonfatal gunshot
wound.
Shooting at a presidential candidate is unprecedented in independent
Armenia and no wonder the incident was followed by live discussions on
online social networking sites.
A low-key and mostly boring campaign suddenly took a dramatic turn
with the shooting incident and now Hayrikyan campaigners do not doubt
that the attack was directed against their candidate and was the
result of his political activities. A nephew of Hayrikyan, however,
said that they did not notice anything suspicious during the campaign
in which Hayrikyan also held outdoor meetings with ordinary people,
nor did he knew about any threats received by the candidate during
this time.
Still, an ArmeniaNow photo reporter who tried to take some campaign
photographs of Hayrikyan on Thursday noticed that on going from place
to place the candidate mostly preferred staying in his car.
The candidate, 63, was attacked in a central Yerevan street and
according to preliminary reports was wounded in the shoulder. He was
said to be consciousness, under medical supervision and his wound is
not considered life threatening.
The investigation in connection with the case will be conducted by the
National Security Service. Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan, who was
also at the scene, told media in the hospital later that the police
considered several versions, but he did not reveal any other details.
After the attack, Hayrikyan was visited at St. Gregory the Illuminator
hospital in Yerevan by all presidential candidates, besides incumbent
President Serzh Sargsyan and National Accord Party leader Aram
Harutyunyan. Hayrikyan was visited by senior state officials,
including Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan and Chief of Presidential Staff Vigen Sargsyan.
Talking to media, Abrahamyan called the incident a "deliberate step
aimed at creating instability in the country."
"I am convinced that the criminal and the political forces that stand
behind it won't succeed in doing it," stressed the parliament speaker,
who is a senior member of Sargsyan's ruling Republican Party and
manages the incumbent president's election campaign. He added,
however, that he did not have any theories as to who may have shot or
ordered the shooting attack.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan also said that the attack was first of
all directed against the government.
"I think there will also be political assessments. We are all very
angered by what happened. We will take all measures in order to reveal
the culprits. Reasons can be various, but one thing is clear - that
this is first of all a blow against the government and statehood,"
said Prime Minister Sargsyan (no relation to President Sargsyan) in
his comments at the hospital.
By the way, after the attack online social networking sites began
actively discussing the possibility of postponing the elections by two
weeks. Under the Armenian constitution, if "insurmountable obstacles"
arise for one of the presidential candidates during the election
period the presidential election is postponed for two weeks. If the
'insurmountable obstacles' persist, a new election is appointed and
the ballot is scheduled on the 40th day after the expiration of this
two-week period.
State officials advise waiting until medical conclusions regarding
Hayrikyan's health condition, after which election authorities will
decide on the matter of either to postpone the elections, now
scheduled for February 18, or not.
http://armenianow.com/vote_2013/43034/armenia_presidential_election2013_candidate_paruyr _hayrikyan_shooting
Vote 2013 | 01.02.13 | 11:14
NAZIK ARMENAKYAN
ArmeniaNow
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
The late-night shooting attack against presidential candidate, leader
of the National Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan is qualified
by many as a blow to the Armenian statehood.
The first reaction of many was shock as media provided coverage of the
incident after which the 63-year-old Soviet-era dissident was rushed
to hospital to be treated for what appeared to be a nonfatal gunshot
wound.
Shooting at a presidential candidate is unprecedented in independent
Armenia and no wonder the incident was followed by live discussions on
online social networking sites.
A low-key and mostly boring campaign suddenly took a dramatic turn
with the shooting incident and now Hayrikyan campaigners do not doubt
that the attack was directed against their candidate and was the
result of his political activities. A nephew of Hayrikyan, however,
said that they did not notice anything suspicious during the campaign
in which Hayrikyan also held outdoor meetings with ordinary people,
nor did he knew about any threats received by the candidate during
this time.
Still, an ArmeniaNow photo reporter who tried to take some campaign
photographs of Hayrikyan on Thursday noticed that on going from place
to place the candidate mostly preferred staying in his car.
The candidate, 63, was attacked in a central Yerevan street and
according to preliminary reports was wounded in the shoulder. He was
said to be consciousness, under medical supervision and his wound is
not considered life threatening.
The investigation in connection with the case will be conducted by the
National Security Service. Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan, who was
also at the scene, told media in the hospital later that the police
considered several versions, but he did not reveal any other details.
After the attack, Hayrikyan was visited at St. Gregory the Illuminator
hospital in Yerevan by all presidential candidates, besides incumbent
President Serzh Sargsyan and National Accord Party leader Aram
Harutyunyan. Hayrikyan was visited by senior state officials,
including Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, National Assembly Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan and Chief of Presidential Staff Vigen Sargsyan.
Talking to media, Abrahamyan called the incident a "deliberate step
aimed at creating instability in the country."
"I am convinced that the criminal and the political forces that stand
behind it won't succeed in doing it," stressed the parliament speaker,
who is a senior member of Sargsyan's ruling Republican Party and
manages the incumbent president's election campaign. He added,
however, that he did not have any theories as to who may have shot or
ordered the shooting attack.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan also said that the attack was first of
all directed against the government.
"I think there will also be political assessments. We are all very
angered by what happened. We will take all measures in order to reveal
the culprits. Reasons can be various, but one thing is clear - that
this is first of all a blow against the government and statehood,"
said Prime Minister Sargsyan (no relation to President Sargsyan) in
his comments at the hospital.
By the way, after the attack online social networking sites began
actively discussing the possibility of postponing the elections by two
weeks. Under the Armenian constitution, if "insurmountable obstacles"
arise for one of the presidential candidates during the election
period the presidential election is postponed for two weeks. If the
'insurmountable obstacles' persist, a new election is appointed and
the ballot is scheduled on the 40th day after the expiration of this
two-week period.
State officials advise waiting until medical conclusions regarding
Hayrikyan's health condition, after which election authorities will
decide on the matter of either to postpone the elections, now
scheduled for February 18, or not.
http://armenianow.com/vote_2013/43034/armenia_presidential_election2013_candidate_paruyr _hayrikyan_shooting