Armed group suggests swapping all captives for Armenia’s police chief

PanARMENIAN.Net - The armed group that seized a patrol department in Yerevan proposed swapping all the remaining four captives with Armenia’s police chief Vladimir Gasparyan, ArmTimes.com reported Wednesday, July 20.

The armed group who seized a police HQ and took everyone inside hostage are members of the Sasna Tsrer movement. One police officer was killed, and three more were wounded in a shootout that broke as the members of the group hit the gates of the police department with a Ural track. Several captives have been set free so far. The group demand the release of Jirair Sefilian, the founder of the Founding Parliament who was arrested on June 20, as he and a group of people had planned to seize premises and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower.

According to one of the members, Pavel Manukyan, the captives are treated really well. He even joked that they won’t leave the police premises even if they are allowed to.

“We have provided them with water and food,” Manukyan said.

When the journalist who was interviewing the man via phone asked to put her through to either of the two top police officers currently held hostage, Manukyan said they don’t want to talk to the media.

The group on Tuesday fired guns into the air as they thought the police were attacking civilians, who had gathered at the scene.