Over 48 hours pass since Yerevan police station seizure

  19 July 2016    Read: 2537
Over 48 hours pass since Yerevan police station seizure
More than 48 hours have passed since a group of armed men stormed into a capital city Yerevan police station, and took several police officers hostage in Armenia.
The situation, however, is calm at the moment.

In the previous evening, the police brought extra forces outside the police station.

At the same time, activists held a march in downtown Yerevan, and subsequently, they staged a sit-in at an intersection. They were demanding the release of those who were detained Monday from Liberty Square. Being convinced that the participants in the march were set free, they moved toward Liberty Square.

Sometime thereafter, around one hundred demonstrators marched toward the said police station, where they were met by a police chain.

The First Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia, Hunan Poghosyan, announced that negotiations are still in progress with the attackers.

Police issued a statement urging not to stage marches toward the special protection area.

The street running in front of the said police station is still closed.

A group of armed men stormed into a Yerevan police regiment, on early morning on July 17, and took several police officers hostage. Deputy regiment commander Artur Vanoyan was killed, and four other police officers plus one of the attackers were wounded during the ensuing gunfire exchange.

Negotiations are still underway to release all hostages and end the armed resistance.

The gunmen demand the release of imprisoned radical opposition activist Jirair Sefilian.

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