February 1, 2013 - 15:21 AMT
Russian expert: candidate Hayrikyan can’t rival incumbent president

Armenian leadership or political forces are in no way involved in presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan’s assassination attempt, Russian political experts believe.

According to a deputy director of the Center for the Studies of the Post-Soviet Space Countries Alexander Karavayev, Hayrikyan can’t rival incumbent president Serzh Sargsyan, Pravda.ru said.

Hayrikyan, aged 63, was earlier taken to hospital with a gunshot injury to his shoulder. He has undergone a successful bullet removal surgery. A search for the gunman is under way.