YEREVAN. Feb 1 (Interfax) - Armenian presidential chief-of-staff Vigen Sarkisyan has said he suspects the presence of political motives behind Thursday's attempt to assassinate presidential candidate Paruir Airikyan.
"The assassination attempt made on Airikyan at this important electoral period can stem only from political motives," Sarkisyan told journalists.
The official said that he had visited Airikyan at the clinic.
"Airikyan was not crushed by what happened and believes that all this will end well," he said.
Airikyan, the leader of the National Union for Self-Determination, was attacked near his house in the center of Yerevan on Thursday evening.
Armenia's presidential election is due to take place on February 18.