Standoff at Armenian police station enters third day

2016-07-20 01:55:45

(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) > Armenian police have deployed more personnel in front of a district police headquarters in the capital, Yerevan, where armed supporters of a jailed opposition leader have been holding several people hostage since July 17.

The reinforcements came late on July 18 after hundreds of opposition supporters gathered on Freedom Square in central Yerevanand planned to march to the besieged police station, but were stopped by police.

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.

Police say the armed men also took nine people hostage inside the building and that five of them have been released so far amid negotiations.

The gunmen are demanding the release of Jirayr 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 under way with the gunmen for their surrender.

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