Armenian court sanctions arrest of ex-presidential candidate charged with organizing assassination attempt
YEREVAN. March 5 (Interfax) - A Yerevan court imposed a two-month preliminary arrest on former Armenian presidential candidate Vardan Sedrakian charged with organizing an assassination attempt on another presidential candidate, Paruyr Hayrikyan.
The Armenian National Security Service earlier asked the court to arrest Sedrakian. National Security Service press secretary Artsvin Bagramian told Interfax that more detailed information on the case would be available on Wednesday.
Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan, the leader of the National Self-Determination Association party, was attacked on the night of January 31. He was wounded in the shoulder.
A criminal case was opened on charges of "attempted murder of a statesman, politician, or public figure committed to end his activities" (Armenian Criminal Code Article 34-305).
Sedrakian, a specialist on epic studies, anticipated earlier that he would be charged with organizing the attack on Hayrikyan following the presidential elections on February 18.
Sedrakian also confirmed that Khachatur Pogosian, 47, and Samvel Arutyunian, 41, who were earlier arrested on suspicion of playing a role in the attack on Hayrikyan, had worked as house painters in his apartment. He refused to say when exactly they were remodeling his apartment.
