Reports from Yerevan say that the armed group under siege in Erebuni Police Station in Yerevan have taken a number of medical personnel as hostages. The hostages were named as Doctors Norayr Tevanyan and Salvador Khechoyan, paramedic David Tonoyan and nurse Malina Markaryan. Astatement by the Armenian Ministry of Health said that they were taken hostage while carrying out their professional duties.
“An attempt to lay hands on the specialists carrying out humanitarian mission is a reprehensible phenomenon unacceptable in the whole world. The entire medical community of Armenia received the news with indignation and strongly condemns this immoral step, demanding to immediately release the captured doctors without any conditions. Even the fact that the same doctors have provided necessary medical assistance to the members of the armed group hasn’t been taken into consideration,” the Health Ministry statement reads.The Armenian medical community has called for the immediate release of the medical personnel without any preconditions.
The new hostage situation is the latest twist in a saga that has lasted since 17 July when armed men seized the police station in Erebuni, killing one police officer. They subsequently asked for release of some prisoners, and for the resignation of President Sargsyan.
During a police operation yesterday two of the gunmen were injured. Their situation has this morning been described as serious but stable. A policeman was also injured in the incident overnight, which happened as thousands of Armenians took to the streets to support the demands of the armed group.
source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: The scene around Erebuni police station (picture courtesy of hetq.am).
