Drunk Driver Pursues Paruyr Hayrikyan, Threatens and Attempts to Strike

The leader of the National Self-Determination Union, Paruyr Hayrikyan, has made a post on his Facebook page.

“I won’t mention names (or any other details) to respect the presumption of innocence of individuals. Life is full of pleasant and unpleasant surprises, and no one is insured against them… Just yesterday, when my daughter was supposed to travel from one location to another in Rome at a late hour, I was asking whether night Rome is as safe as Yerevan, and the next day I find myself in a foolish situation in Yerevan, compelled to make a statement to the law enforcement authorities. At around 11 PM, I was driving from Davitashen towards the center. When entering Gyulbenkian via Khachaturyan Street, I noticed a black car speedily entering my intersection on a red light from the right side. I signaled, the driver abruptly slammed the brakes, and I continued on my way, while he expressed his discontent with his siren. I thought maybe this person was expressing gratitude for preventing an accident due to his violation. However, I noticed that by turning on high beams, he demanded that I stop or do something that is only known to him. I continued driving, reaching Komsomol Street. There, he passed me with his siren on. I foolishly responded with my siren. At one moment, when I slowed down, the black car appeared on my right, and its relatively young driver said something through the open window. I opened my window as well and immediately heard his threats and later his insults. I was somewhat taken aback and invited him to keep calm. At that moment, he said, 'Do you know what I will do to you?' and lowered his hand from the steering wheel. I do not know what he was going to pull out from there, but I quickly showed him my firearm (reward weapon) and told him to stay sane. 'Are you scaring me?' 'No, I fear becoming a murderer; go your own way.' (My weapon wasn't even loaded.) He left; I followed the same path. At the beginning of Baghramyan Street, just below the 'SAS' store, he cut off my car sharply, closing off my path. I also slammed the brakes. Continuing to threaten, I slightly opened my window, invited him to keep calm, and continued on my way. Before reaching Proshyan Street, he passed me again. I called 102 and began to describe the incident, passing on his car's number. He turned on his hazard lights and stopped his vehicle. I also stopped. He was holding some black object in his hand. Through my partially open window, I heard his threats: 'If you know what I’ll do to you or what we will do' and curses. Foolishly, I responded to him with eight floors for his seven-floor building, but I wasn’t threatening anything, continuing to communicate with the police officer on duty, who at that moment was asking about the car’s brand. I only stated the color, and at that moment, our impudent contact struck my direction through the partially opened window. Pulling back a little, I avoided the heavy object. While discussing with the officer on duty, I informed him about our location. This person attempted to break my window with strikes while continuing to hurl threats. Naturally, all of this was audible to the police officer on duty as well. It seems our impudent contact had become excited by the realization or subconscious knowledge that I would not want to become a murderer. The person accompanying him urged him to stop the hooliganism, having seen that I was simultaneously talking to the police. They quickly drove their car into Proshyan Street, while I continued on my way… At that moment, a patrol car arrived, but the 'hero' had already fled. Later, the police contacted me and took my statement. I learned that they found and detained the individual, stating that he had been under the influence of alcohol and had even resisted law enforcement. My initial conclusion is that this was not a premeditated act but rather an expression of the hooligan tendencies of an undisciplined person. They say he didn’t recognize me, but could anyone behave that way with someone of his age? And if a mother or sister had been behind the wheel instead of me… just imagining that is terrifying. I spoke with my lawyer; he advised me to inform the media or publicize what happened through a press conference. For now, I find this Facebook post to be sufficient…”