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Paruyr Hayrikyan
An Armenian presidential candidate has been shot in the center of Yerevan, the country's capital, late Thursday. The 64-year-old Paruyr Hayrikyan of the Union for National Self-Determination party, was taken to hospital following the incident.

Hayrikyan was taken to the Saint Gregory the Illuminator medical center with two gunshot wounds, in the shoulder and in the chest. The chest wound is considered serious, but not immediately life-threatening, medics said.

Hayrikyan is conscious but has not yet been operated on. A number of high-profile figures visited the politician in his ward, including Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Yerevan Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan and Speaker of Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan, Regnum news agency reports.

"An attempt on Hayrikyan is a blow to our nationhood," Abrahamyan told Interfax. "We explicitly condemn the incident and hope that police will solve the crime quickly."

The candidate was shot as he left his car near his parent's house on Tpagrichneri Street in the southeast section of central Yerevan.

Two shells have reportedly been found at the crime scene. Police are still investigating, but are not commenting on the incident.

Hayrikyan is one of eight candidates running for president in the Caucasus state's February 18 election. The election campaign was launched on January 21.