Yerevan standoff: two gunmen surrender, others wounded in shootout

PanARMENIAN.Net - On the night of July 26-27, law enforcement authorities attacked the patrol department that an armed group has been holding for some 10 days in Yerevan, the group said in a statement. The police say, however, that gunmen opened random bursts of fire on July 26 at round 11:00 pm, endangering the lives all the people near the patrol regiment at the time.

The group are members of the Sasna Tsrer movement. One police officer was killed, and several more were wounded in a shootout that broke as the members of the group hit the gates of the police department with a track. All the captives have been set free. 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 allegedly planned to seize premises and communication facilities, including the Yerevan TV tower. They also demand the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan and the creation of a transitional government.

Two members of the armed group were reportedly trying to surrender to the authorities, as a shootout broke between the gunmen and the police.

Several of the Sasna Tsrer members, including Karabakh war veteran Pavel Manukyan and his son, Aram, as well as a police officer were wounded as a result.

The three of them and several of the armed people were taken out of the territory of the patrol department, with Manukyan, his son and the wounded officer having undergone surgery.

According to recent information, the gunmen's condition is assessed as critical but stable, both are placed on mechanical ventilation.

There are some 24-25 members of the group inside the police HQ, three of them are injured, reports say.

A number of civilians had gathered near the scene at night to support the Sasna Tsrer. The police detained some of them while trying to disperse the crowd.