Armenian police have exchanged gunfire with an armed pro-opposition group holding hostages for a twelfth day and clashed with thousands of protesters supporting the hostage-takers. Riot police used tear gas and stun grenades to end the protest organized by politicians and public figures allied to Founding Parliament, a radical opposition group with which the gunmen are affiliated.
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The armed group seized the police station in a bid to pressure the government to release Sefilian.
Police armed with shields and truncheons deployed smoke and sound bombs against the protesters who chanted “Free independent Armenia!” and “Serzh, leave!” referring to President Serzh Sarkisian, who has led the country since 2008.
1986) was killed by sniper gun fire while sitting in a police auto parked over a 1,000 feet away from the seized police compound.
The gunmen – supporters of fringe jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan – stormed the police building on July 17, killing one officer, taking several more hostage and seizing a store of weapons.
Authorities said they have launched a criminal probe into 23 of the protesters, including a member of the pro-Western Heritage party Armen Martirosyan.
Meanwhile, Armenian security forces gave police station gunmen until 5 p.m. Saturday to lay down their arms or face a large-scale assault. Police arrested 165 people and 26 remained in custody on Saturday, according to the AP.
Around 24 gunmen are still inside.
The group released a video that seeks the release of “political prisoners” including Sefilian and called people to take part onto the streets.
The group also said it will retaliate if attacked and has no intention of surrendering.
The group has demanded the resignation of Sarkisian as well as Sefilyan’s release and protesters have regularly gathered since, voicing similar calls. We urge the Armenian government to take immediate steps to prevent a repeat of last night’s actions and to direct the Armenian security forces to maintain order in a manner that upholds all Armenian citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly – freedoms that are guaranteed in the Armenian Constitution and are the core values of any strong and functioning democracy.
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“People will resort to violence when they feel the system has failed them”, Maria Titizian, a Yerevan-based journalist, said.
