Vardan Sedrakian gets 14 years in jail

The court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marsh administrative districts announced today the sentence in the case of attempted murder of Paruyr Hayrikian, the leader of Union for National Self-Determination (AIM) Party.

Vardan Sedrakian was sentenced to 14 years in prison, Khachatur Poghosian - to 14 years, and Samvel Harutyunian got 12 years in prison.

The court has decided not to examine Hayrikian’s claim for damages.

Charges were earlier brought against Vardan Sedrakian who, while running as a presidential candidate in the election due on February 18, 2013, told his acquaintances, Samvel Harutyunian and Khachatur Poghosian, in early January 2013 to kill another presidential candidate, AIM Party leader Paruyr Hayrikian in order to stop his political activity. Sedrakian gave $1,000 to the two men for the purchase of a gun, but Poghosian and Harutyunian divided the money between themselves. To commit the planned crime, Poghosian used a 7.62 mm Nagant revolver that he illegally purchased in 1996.