Police station in Yerevan being captured for 13th day

By Rashid Shirinov

Thirteen days have passed since the seizure of a police station in Yerevan by an armed group Sasna Tsrer, who still stays inside refusing to surrender.  Currently, they keep hostage an ambulance crew of three people, including one woman.

From the first day of the seizure, Armenian people started their protest actions against authorities by gathering on the Khorenatsi street and some other main venues of the capital. Every evening they conduct rallies in front of the police cordon to stop the implementation of a special operation against the armed group.

Last night, demonstrators on the Freedom square carried out a protest march towards Baghramyan Avenue, where the residence of the President is located. Some protesters held posters with the inscription ‘I Want to be a hostage of Sasna-Tsrer’. Despite heavy rain and thunderstorm, the demonstrators did not postpone holding of the protest action.

However, again the police cordoning didn’t allow the protesters to “disturb” President Sargsyan. The police banned the marchers to continue the action, noting that the protest march had not been notified about, it is illegal and they would not allow its holding.

Following that, the demonstrators turned around to the Freedom square. There, they were also met by police crews armed with batons and shields. The activists repeated their requirements including the release of detained demonstrators, resign of the authorities and formation of the transitional government.

Meanwhile, protests against the Armenian government have spread to the second largest city of Armenia, Gyumri. The protesters expressed support for the members of the armed group Sasna Tsrer and the arrested citizens.

 The protesters, mainly youth, walked through the central streets of the city and encouraged citizens to come out and join their struggle. They also appealed to the police to join the procession and be with the people.

Meanwhile, the Armenian court made a decision to arrest a member of the armed group Aram Manukian, who is currently placed in a hospital together with his father Pavlik Manukyan.

On July 17, a group of armed men entered the territory of the Armenian police patrol department in the Erebuni district of Yerevan and took several people hostage. The attackers demanded the release of Armenian opposition figure Jirair Sefilyan, who was arrested nearly a month ago on charges of illegal possession of arms. They also claim resignation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

Following the long-lasting talks, the armed group on July 23 released all of the hostages. Nevertheless, they refused to lay arms down and surrender to the authorities.

On July 27, the group took new hostages. They were four ambulance doctors who arrived at the police station to assist the wounded in the shootout between the police and Sasna Tsrer members. One of the hostages was released, whilst the others are still being kept in the station.