Police disperse Yerevan protesters after violent night

July 21, 2016 By administrator

Police in Yerevan on Thursday, July 21 dispersed protesters after detaining dozens of others following a night of violent clashes over a four-day hostage standoff.

The armed group that seized a police HQ and took everyone inside hostage are members of the Sasna Tsrer movement. One police officer was killed, and three more were wounded in a shootout that broke as the members of the group hit the gates of the police department with a Ural track. Several captives have been set free so far.The hostages include Armenia’s deputy police chief General Major Vardan Eghiazaryan and Yerevan deputy police chief Colonel Valeri Osipyan.The group demand the release of Jirair Sefilian, the founder of the Founding Parliament who was arrested on June 20, as he and a group of people had planned to seize premises and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower.

At least 51 people, including 25 police were wounded Wednesday night, the health ministry said, after stone-throwing protesters attacked officers deployed outside the seized police building.

Police in turn, fired tear gas into the crowd.

The protest continued into the early hours of Thursday as some 2,000 protesters built barricades in front of the cordons of the police.

Early in the morning, riot police dispersed the crowd beating and arresting scores of demonstrators.

At least 15 opposition politicians from the moderate Civil Contract party were arrested, the party leader, MP Nikol Pashinyan, told journalists.

Tert.am. Գիշերվա ընթացքում Խորենացի, Տիգրան Մեծ, Նար-Դոս փողոցներից բերման է ենթարկվել 138 անձ (լուսանկարներ)

EU reacts to Yerevan police standoff, calls for restraint by police

July 21, 2016 By administrator

eu react The European Union on Thursday, July 21 commented on the recent situation in Yerevan following an armed police station takeover, stating that the use of force to achieve political change is unacceptable.

An armed group seized a police HQ and took everyone inside hostage. They are members of the Sasna Tsrer movement. One police officer was killed, and three more were wounded in a shootout that broke as the members of the group hit the gates of the police department with a Ural track. Several captives have been set free so far. The hostages include Armenia’s deputy police chief General Major Vardan Eghiazaryan and Yerevan deputy police chief Colonel Valeri Osipyan. The group demand the release of Jirair Sefilian, the founder of the Founding Parliament who was arrested on June 20, as he and a group of people had planned to seize premises and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower.

“With concern we note reports on excessive use of force and mass arrests by the police,” the Union’s delegation to Armenia said in a statement.

“In this regard, we call on the authorities to observe the principle of proportionality in handling public rallies, including both peaceful and violent gatherings. Likewise, demonstrators need to refrain from violence as they make use of their civil rights.”

“We also take note of the statements issued by the Ombudsman and call for a full investigation of all cases of alleged wrongdoing by the police, including mistreatment, denial of access to lawyers and medical care,” the statement went on to say.

Armenian Protesters, Police Clash At Hostage Standoff Scene Video

July 20, 2016 By administrator

Demonstrators sympathetic to an armed opposition group holding hostages pelted a heavy cordon of riot police with rocks, after which the police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

By RFE/RL’s Armenian Service

July 20, 2016

YEREVAN — Hundreds of Armenian protesters sympathetic to an armed opposition group holding hostages at a district police headquarters in Yerevan clashed with police on July 20 after their demand to provide food to the gunmen went unheeded by authorities.

Demonstrators pelted a heavy cordon of riot police with rocks, after which police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. A group of officers reportedly detached from the rest and chased some demonstrators.

An RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent at the scene reported seeing blood stains on the asphalt. One elderly man with blood on his face said he had been struck by police batons, and at least three ambulances were seen speeding to the scene.

The gunmen took over the Erebuni police station at dawn on July 17, killing one police officer and wounding six other people, and prompting a standoff with police.They continue to hold four police officers hostage.

The gunmen are demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilian, the leader of the Founding Parliament opposition movement, who was arrested last month on charges of illegal acquisition and possession of weapons.

They also want President Serzh Sarkisian to step down.

Authorities have rejected the group’s demands and say negotiations are underway with the gunmen for their surrender.

Armenia’s deputy police chief, Samvel Hovhannisian, told RFE/RL that “numerous” police officers have been injured in the July 20 clashes near the police station.

LIVE FEED: Clashes At Yerevan Police Station

Meanwhile, tensions were also reported in another part of the besieged area.

Nikol Pashinian, an opposition lawmaker who has been acting as a mediator in negotiations between police and the armed group on issues such as food, returned to the scene on July 20 and tried to pacify the situation by talking with both police and protesters.

The Founding Parliament is sharply critical of the way the government has dealt with the long-running conflict in Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory that both Armenia and Azerbaijan claim.

The group frequently stages street protests in Yerevan demanding Sarkisian’s resignation.

Yerevan hostage stand-off: National Security Service continues surveillance

July 20, 2016 By administrator

Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) is undertaking special operations to resolve the stand-off at the patrol police regiment which was seized by an armed opposition group on Sunday.
Five policemen have been so far released in what the law enforcement bodies call an anti-terrorist operation.
One police officer was killed and two others were injured after the group calling itself “Daredevils of Sassoun” (Founding Parliament movement) burst into the building, calling for the release of Zhirayr Sefilyan, the civic movement’s leader who was detained in June.
Four policemen are still being kept hostage.
In a press release, the NSS says that they are continuing negotiations with the group’s members to reach a peaceful solution.
“The measures undertaken are special and narrowly professional; hence the individuals responsible for their organization and implementation do not need any intervention or assistance,” reads the official statement.

Yerevan: Armed group to respond to NSS’ demands by 7 pm

July 19, 2016 By administrator

hostage stadoff The armed group that seized a police HQ in Yerevan is ready to respond to the demands of the National Security Service by 7:00 pm local time, one of the members of the group said Tuesday, July 19.

The group stormed the police department on Sunday, taking everyone inside hostage. The gunmen are members of the Sasna Tsrer movement. One police officer was killed, and three more were wounded in a shootout that broke as the members of the group hit the gates of the police department with a Ural track. Several captives have been set free so far. The group demand the release of Jirair Sefilian, the founder of the Founding Parliament who was arrested on June 20, as he and a group of people had planned to seize premises and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower.

“I have been participating in negotiations between the NSS and the representatives of Sasna Tsrer group, the one that is holding the police building in Erebuni,” Novosti Armenia cited Alek Yenigomshyan as saying.

“I conveyed to them the NSS’ demands to which they are ready to respond in the evening.”

Yenigomshyan, however, failed to unveil the main requirements that the NSS has put forward.

According to Yenigomshyan, after reaching a preliminary agreement, as well as securing the gunmen’s readiness to consider the authorities’ proposals, everyone inside the police premises was deprived of all kinds of communications.

“It is impossible to negotiate in such conditions; unless communication is restored in the building within half an hour, we’ll consider negotiations unilaterally ceased on the authorities’ behalf,” Yenigomshyan said.

According to him, the members of the group coordinate their actions with Sefilian.

The situation at the scene is calm, with no incidents registered throughout the night.

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Yerevan Update: Some Hostages Freed As Standoff Continues In Armenia

July 18, 2016 By administrator

Opposition leader Zhirayr Sefilian

By RFE/RL’s Armenian Service

Last updated (GMT/UTC): 18.07.2016 11:48

YEREVAN — Gunmen affiliated with an Armenian opposition group have freed three of seven hostages at an occupied Yerevan police station as a standoff with security forces enters a second day.

The occupation started when at least a dozen gunmen stormed the station in the city’s southern Erebuni district at dawn on July 17, killing one police officer and wounding six other people.

The gunmen are demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilian, the leader of the Founding Parliament opposition movement, who was arrested last month for allegedly plotting an armed revolt.

They also want President Serzh Sarkisian to step down.

The hostage takers and the police officers they are holding have reportedly been supplied with food and medication.

Earlier, a first deputy chief of the Armenian national police force, General Hunan Poghosian, told reporters that those still being held include two senior police commanders.

Their releases were part of ongoing negotiations, the National Security Service (NSS) said in a statement.

The officer killed during the storming of the station was named as a police colonel, Artur Vanoyan.

The Armenian Health Ministry on July 18 raised the casualty figure from four to six injured.

Aravot.am reported that one of the gunmen told the website by telephone that the group had freed the first two hostages at Sefilian’s request, relayed to them by another Founding Parliament member who was allowed to visit them late on July 17.

But he added that negotiations would continue for the time being.

Varuzhan Avetisian, a spokesman for Founding Parliament, announced that “they are starting a rebellion” and an attempt to “overthrow the government” while also trying to secure the “release of political prisoners.”

EXPLAINER: What Is Armenia’s ‘Founding Parliament’ Movement?

The group has released a video on Facebook calling on Armenian citizens to take to the streets against the government.

The Facebook video showed several men in flak jackets and armed with Kalashnikovs as well as several hostages being held inside the police building.

“We are doing this for you. People, take to the streets!” one of the gunmen said in the video while also calling for the release “of all political prisoners.”

The gunmen’s call for public unrest reportedly has met with silence.

Police have cordoned off the area near the police station, with armored vehicles blocking off the road to the police station.

“The law-enforcement agencies fully control the situation and are taking all necessary measures to resolve it,” the NSS said in a statement.

President Serzh Sarkisian held consultations with security officials to decide how best to handle the situation, his office said, saying he had been told that the siege was completely under control.

Residents of nearby apartment buildings said they heard several explosions early in the morning and gunshots were also reported afterwards.

Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker and outspoken government critic Nikol Pashinian visited the police station and spoke with the attackers twice during the night.

Pashinian, the leader of the newly established Civic Agreement opposition party, said one of the attackers inside the police station had a serious head wound.

He also said a policeman, who was feeling unwell, was released by the hostage-takers.

The Founding Parliament group frequently stages street protests in Yerevan demanding Sarkisian’s resignation.

The group is particularly critical of the way the government has been handling a long-running conflict in Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the territory claimed by both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Sefilian and six of his supporters were arrested on June 20 after the authorities initially said they were preparing a plot to seize several government buildings and telecommunication facilities in Yerevan.

He was formally charged with illegal acquisition and possession of weapons. Sefilian says the case against him is politically motivated.

Just days before his arrest, Sefilian announced plans to set up a new opposition movement called the National Resistance Committee. He said the new movement would try to topple the government “with the help of the people and the army.”

Sefilian was arrested in 2006 over calls for “a violent overthrow of the government.”

He was released in 2008.

In 2015, Sefilian was arrested again along with several of his supporters on suspicion of preparing a coup, but released shortly afterwards.

With reporting by AFP and AP

Yerevan Dozens of opponents questioned, continuing hostage

July 18, 2016 By administrator

opponent questioned Yerevan, July 18, 2016 (AFP) – An armed group linked to an Armenian opponent was still cut off on Monday with five hostages in a police building in Yerevan while dozens of activists of the Armenian opposition were questioned by police the night.

Opponents “were all released after being questioned,” assured a police spokesman told AFP nearly 24 hours after the start of the hostage.

The security services have announced that two hostages had been released the night after several hours of negotiations, five others are still being held.

Sunday morning, a group of armed men linked to an opponent imprisoned Jirair Sefilian, had stormed a police building in Yerevan, killing a policeman, taking several hostages and demanding the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan.

“The security forces are doing their utmost to enable a peaceful resolution of the situation”, said the security services of the South Caucasus countries in a statement.

Two high-ranking officers, the deputy chief of the National Police Vardan Eguiazarian and deputy police chief of Yerevan Valeri Ossipian are among the hostages.

The attackers also demanding the release of the politician of the opposition, Jirair Sefilian, arrested in June for possession of weapons and accused of wanting to occupy government buildings and telecommunication centers in Yerevan.

A fierce critic of the government, he was previously arrested in 2006 and jailed for 18 months after being called to “overthrow the government by violence.”

He was also briefly arrested for coup attempt in 2015 before being released.

Former military, President Sargsyan was elected in 2008 and his election contested by the opposition, had caused riots that killed 10 people.

Monday, July 18, 2016,
Ara © armenews.com

Situation at Yerevan police station is calm 32 hours after attack

July 18, 2016 By administrator

Armenian standof YEREVAN. – More than 30 hours have passed since the incident that occurred in a police station in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan, and the armed group is still holding several policemen hostage.

But the situation is calm at the moment, and nothing extraordinary has been recorded.

Police Chief of Armenia Vladimir Gasparyan, and National Security Service (NSS) Chief Georgi Kutoyan arrived at the scene early Monday morning. But they left shortly thereafter, and without responding to the journalists’ questions.

As reported earlier, the NSS issued a statement noting that a police officer and a civilian were released over night.

It was noted, however, that the armed group refuses to release other forcibly detained persons, including senior police officials, and put down their weapons and surrender to authorities.

The First Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia, Hunan Poghosyan, informed that the armed group is currently holding five policemen hostage.

Even though the street running in front of the said police station is still closed, active movement by police vehicles is occasionally observed.

A group of armed men stormed into a police regiment, on early Sunday morning, and took several police officers hostage. One officer, deputy regiment commander Artur Vanoyan, was killed. In addition, four police officers and one of the people who participated in the attack were wounded.

Negotiations are still underway to release the remaining hostages and end the armed attack.

Yerevan Update: Gunmen seize police HQ in Yerevan: 1 killed, 3 wounded

July 17, 2016 By administrator

Hostage stadup A group of armed people on Sunday, July 17 stormed the patrol service of the Armenian police and took everyone inside hostage. The group are members of the Sasna Tsrer movement. One police officer was killed, and three more were wounded.

5:30 pm: President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with representatives of the law enforcement system. The attendees briefed the President on the situation following the incident that happened in Yerevan early in the morning, as well as the measures taken by the law enforcement bodies. The latter, according to the presidential press service, continue controlling the situation and taking corresponding steps to reach a settlement of the issue.

4:45 pm: One of the members of the group said negotiations are still underway with the law enforcement authorities.

According to Pavel Manukyan, the National Security Service has offered to take the gunmen to Jirayr Sefilyan but they have refused and demand instead that Sefilian be released.

Also, Manukyan said they have required journalists but the police have refused to fulfill their demand. He said two of their gunmen were wounded during the shootout.In response to a question on whether they are going to release the hostages, Manukyan gave a negative response. Asked if they are sorry for the officer killed in the shootout, the gunman said: “We are sorry for everything.”Commenting on a possible attack which could endanger the lives of the hostages, Manukyan said: “Everything is possible.”

3:45 pm: Deputy Police Chief of Armenia Hunan Pohosyan told reporters that negotiations are still underway with the gunmen.

The gunmen have one demand, i.e. the release of Jirair Sefilian, which, according to Poghosyan, is impossible.

A police colonel, Artur Vanoyan was killed, while colonel Aram Hovhannisyan, lieutenant colonel Hrach Khosteghdyan and sub-officer Gagik Mkrtchyan were wounded.

2:20 pm: MP Nikol Pashinyan said he knows nothing about the police’s plans, but said the group members are determined and don’t intend to retreat in the event of an attack. Also, the MP said he is going to meet with Jirair Sefilian at the detention facility he is currently being kept in.

1:55 pm: One of the wounded police officers was admitted to Muratsan military hospital. He was wounded in the abdomen and has already undergone surgery.

1:45 pm: Several people, including activist Vardges Gaspari were detained at the Freedom Square near Yerevan’s Opera House. The gunmen earlier called on the public to gather at the square “for planning the next steps.”

1:30 pm: The NSS said a police officer was killed and two more were wounded in the hostage situation. Two of the hostages were set free following the National Security Service’s operative measures, the NSS said in a statement.

12:56 pm: Local residents told a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent that the operation began at around 5:30 am. A powerful explosion was first heard (probably the truck hitting the gates – editor’s note), followed by gunshot fire.

12:38 pm:Commander of the Internal Troops Levon Yeranosyan, Deputy Police Chief Hunan Poghosyan have arrived at the scene. Poghosyan urged the public to go home for their own security.

12:20 pm: MP Nikol Pashinyan who just left the police premises told reporters that the group demand resignation of [President] Serzh Sargsyan and transfer of power to the people. The armed group currenyly holds 7 people hostage. There were initially 8 hostages but one of them was hospitalized following a fluctuation of blood pressure. The incident took place early in the morning when the members of the group hit the gates of the department with a Ural truck. According to Pashinyan, one of the members has received a gunshot or shrapnel injury in the head

11:41 am: Police cars and armored vehicles have blocked the road taking to the Erebuni police department. Journalists are barred from entering the area or reporting on the inicident, RFE/RL Armenian Service says.

Head of the press service of the Armenian police Ashot Aharonyan said they will soon issue a statement.

11:15 am: The NSS reports that state authorities continue their normal operation, while law enforcement authorities are properly carrying out public safety functions.

Negotiations are currently underway with the armed militants for them to peacefully surrender to the Armenian authorities, the NSS said.

As the press service of the National Security Service (NSS) reports, their supporters use news outlets and social media platforms “to spread disinformation about starting an armed uprising, capturing buildings and premises.”

Armenia’s NSS declared that the information does not correspond to reality.

10:35: Founding Parliament member Varuzhan Avetisyan, who also from “Sasna Tsrer,” said that those seizing the building are members of the initiative too. They demand that founder of the movement Jirair Sefilian who was arrested several weeks ago, be set free.

He said that the police used an armed vehicle to attack those seizing the building, a retaliatory fire broke, injuring several people.

In an interview with Armtimes.am, Avetisyan said earlier that after Sefilian joins them from jail, they will proceed to the next stage of their demand, i.e. resignation of [President] Serzh Sargsyan and transfer of power to the people. Sefilian is the one to conduct negotiations, he said. He also added that they have Deputy Chief of Yerevan Police Valery Osipyan and deputy chief of police Vardan Yeghiazaryan.

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Sputnikarmenia.ru: Раненому в результате вооруженного нападения полицейскому сделана операция

Police continue negotiating with gunmen who seized Yerevan police headquarters

July 17, 2016 By administrator

hostage yerevan YEREVAN. – Armenian police is capable of neutralizing those who seized the police station, first deputy chief of Armenia’s police Hunan Poghosyan told reporters.

The negotiations are underway, the police are trying to persuade the gunmen to abandon their intentions.

“If our attempts fail, we are capable of neutralizing them. There is no other way with the murderers,” Poghosyan said, adding that the criminals have only one demand – to release opposition activist Jirair Sefilian.

He said none of the criminals was wounded.

Colonel Artur Vanoyan was killed, while Colonel Aram Hovhannisyan, Lieutenant Colonel Hrach Hostegyan and Sergeant Gagik Mkrtchyan sustained gunshot wounds as a group of armed people seized a police station on Sunday morning.