Former presidential candidate jailed for 14 years over murder attempt

September 23, 2013 - 14:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Former presidential candidate Vardan Sedrakyan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison over the murder attempt of his opponent Paruyr Hayrikyan.

Khachatur Poghosyan and Samvel Hartyunyan who were ordered to assassinate the ex-candidate Hayrikyan were given 14 and 12 years behind bars respectively, aysor.am said.

According to investigation documents, in early January, Sedrakyan ordered the murder to to stop Hayrikyan's political activity. The perpetrators received money to purchase a weapon, the illegally bought Nagan revolver.

Hayrikyan was shot in the shoulder on January 31 night close to his home in the capital Yerevan. He was taken to the hospital where doctors removed the bullet.

The politician further travelled to Holland for treatment, with government allocating AMD 20.5 million from the reserve fund.

Under Article 34-305 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, a charge has been brought against former presidential candidate Sedrakyan for ordering the January 31 assassination attempt on National Self-Determination Union party chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan.

A charge for ordering Hayrikyan's murder was laid against Sedrakyan on March 6.