An armed opposition group has taken hostages, after storming a police station in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. One policemen has been killed according to CivilNet. The group has released a video demanding the release of opposition leader Jirair Sefilian and other political prisoners.
"A group of armed men entered the premises of a police regiment in Yerevan and is holding hostages under the threat of violence," Armenia's National Security Service said in a statement. There are thought to be several hostages, one of which is the country's deputy police chief according to France 24.
"Dear friends, citizens, Armenian nation, it has begun, we are doing this for you... Go out to the streets!" said the armed men in a video, They are identifying themselves as the Daredevils of Sassoun, according to CivilNet.
Local sources are reporting that roads are being blocked and security increased in the Armenian capital. “We demand the release of Zhirair Sefilyan. We will only obey his orders. Sarkisian must resign,” Varuzhan Avetisyan, a member of the group who stormed the police station, wrote on Facebook.
Mr Sefilian is a strong critic of Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan, and his handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He has been arrested on previous occasions for threatening to overthrow Armenia's democratically elected government.
SOURCE: commonspace.eu and agencies
PHOTO: © AFP | Armenian police officers block streets to Erebuni police station in Yerevan on July 17, 2016
