Dozens were injured and 26 arrested in the early hours of Saturday after authorities broke up a rally near the police station, where the armed pro-opposition group has been holed up for nearly two weeks with several hostages.
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Minutes later, police spokesman Ashot Aharonyan said in a Facebook post that the group set a third vehicle on fire.
The 10-day invasion of a Yerevan police station took several twists today, after an overnight shootout left five people wounded after police apparently made a decision to storm the building.
Riot police used truncheons, stun grenades and tear gas to stop a crowd that was approaching the police station.
Police banned rallies and assemblies outside the police unit territory as early as last Tuesday for fear of further escalation of tensions and actions threatening the life and health of people.
The fatal shooting, the second since the takeover of the station two weeks ago, further heightened tensions following violent clashes Friday night between riot police and opposition supporters that injured 75 people.
The armed group reportedly numbered around 30 when it stormed and seized the police station on July 17.
“We are giving members of the armed group until 17:00 (1300 GMT) to lay down their arms and surrender”, the Armenian national security services said in a statement. We are just as concerned by credible reports that journalists and their equipment were specifically targeted by the police during these operations, in what appears to be clear violations of the freedom of the press.
The group has demanded the resignation of the ex-Soviet nation’s President Serzh Sarkisian and the release of Sefilyan.
They have been demanding the release of Zhirair Sefilyan, an opposition leader accused by the government of plotting civil unrest. Numerous gunmen inside the police station are veterans of that war.
It called for “the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of medical personnel held captive since Wednesday, and any others who may wish to leave the police building”.
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“The police are taking steps to free the doctors through negotiations”.
