"I will not go about terrorists"

Text: Tigran Ovannisyan

On February 18, the presidential election will start in Armenia. Seven candidates will fight for the post of head of state, including the current president Serzh Sargsyan. The election campaign was overshadowed by an attempt on a presidential candidate, a former dissident, the head of the opposition association "National Self-Definition" of 63-year-old Paruir Airikyan. Late in the evening of January 31, at the entrance of his house in the center of Yerevan, an unknown person shot at him twice. Ayrikyana was hospitalized. A week later, the Armenian national security service was detained by two men who later confessed to the deed. Ayrikyan, despite the wound, decided not to apply to the Constitutional Court with a request to postpone the election dates. In an interview with PublicPost, he revealed the details of the attempt.

Armenian President Serge Sargsyan visited Airikyan in the hospital . Photo: Reuters

- Mr. Airikyan, how did it all happen?

When I drove up to the house, some car gave way to me. Later, I realized that she lit a courtyard so that the attackers could make sure that I was going home alone. I stopped my car in the usual place, reached the entrance, but then I remembered that I had forgotten the briefcase in the car, and returned back. He took the briefcase and, already locked the car door, saw that a man was standing next to me. He slowly raised his hand, I, too, thought that he wanted to say hello to me. And then I saw that his hand was wrapped in a scarf. I immediately realized what was the matter, and shouted loudly: it was already impossible to do anything else.

There was a shot, I felt a blow. The man aimed for the second time, but at that moment the windows of the neighbors opened, screams were heard. The attacker shot, but missed and ran away. I felt that I was losing strength, entered the porch, climbed the first landing and fell. I don’t remember anything further. It turns out that the bullet was stuck in my shoulder. In the morning, the doctors operated on me, and now things are being recovered.

- Who could organize this attempt?

I don’t think they shot at me because of everyday problems. Not for that I lost more than 18 years in prisons, so that, because of some household trifles, to spoil someone's life. I have the feeling that it was organized by those Russian services that have not yet been declassified since the Soviet Union. I consider it very important to declassify the agent network of the former KGB. And those states that once took this step advanced forward in their development. The fact is that I am the only candidate who clearly relies on Europe, but at the same time has repeatedly expressed myself to maintain traditional Armenian-Russian relations. At one time in 1987, in Moscow, the Kagabashniki attempted me, arranging a car accident. This is a similar handwriting.

- Is there any guilt of the authorities that you have not ensured your security as a presidential candidate?

I am largely accused of the authorities, but I have no right to have the right to have bodyguards in this matter, we were warned that in case of mass events we can seek help from security issues. However, I did not turn, because I thought that I was surrounded by people who sympathize with me, and felt safe.

- How do you evaluate what happened to you?

It was a well -organized terrorist act. If it was organized by political opponents, then the attempt is associated only with politics.

- You have not appealed to the Constitutional Court to transfer the elections in Armenia. What caused such your decision?

Thus, I do not want to follow some candidates and terrorists who want to postpone the elections. Nobody will receive new elections through us. I have the impression that they wanted to create a situation when I would have to hold new elections according to this terrorist attack. Indeed, in the event of the death of one of the presidential candidates, the election dates are canceled, the powers of the president are completed and new elections are appointed. We will not allow this.

- They also say that this attempt contributed to an increase in your rating. Is it so?

My rating rose to this terrorist attack. And this attempt only contributed to a decrease in my rating, because if some bet on me, now they think: it turns out that Ayrikyan can be killed, and it is better not to lose a voice on him.