Gunmen release another hostage from seized police station in Yerevan - UPDATED
Earlier in the day, local media reported that four individuals, including Armenia`s deputy police chief Maj. Gen. Vardan Egiazaryan and Yerevan`s deputy police chief Col. Valeri Osipyan, were held captive.
“The armed group refused to lay down their arms and surrender. They are now holding five hostages. Negotiations are ongoing. We hope for a peaceful outcome,” Armenian deputy police chief Unan Pogosyan told reporters.
The armed group seized the headquarters of the police and interior troops in Erebuni, Yerevan, July 17, demanding the release of the participant of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, coordinator of the oppositional Armenian civil initiative `Founding Parliament` Zhirayr Sefilyan.
He was arrested for illegally purchasing and storing weapons.
The government officials are holding talks with the armed group`s members.
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10:19
An armed group of people which had captured a police building in Yerevan, freed one hostage, AzVision.az reports citing the Armenian Media.
Thus, five people remain hostage in the police building. Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia Vardan Yeghiazaryan and Deputy Chief of Police of Yerevan Valery Osipyan are among them.
A group of armed men broke in the territory of the patrol police regiment of Armenia have been keeping people hostage under the threat of violence.
According to the police, one police officer was killed and three were injured at the seizure of the building. Two of the hostages were released during special forces operations.