Yerevan sees mass rally as armed group surrenders (Updating)

PanARMENIAN.Net - A rally to support the surrendered members of the Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) armed group launched in Yerevan. Hundreds took to the central streets of the Armenian capital on learning about the decision of the group that seized the Yerevan police compound to surrender.

9:00 pm (Yerevan time) National Security Service announced completion of the anti-terrorist operation to release the territory of the police compound.

"Armenian law enforcers have forced the members of the armed group to lay down arms and surrender to the authorities. 20 terrorists were detained; the territory of the police precinct was freed from terrorists," an NSS statement said.

11:00 pm Some of the remaining rally participants attempted to coordinate their future actions, yet failed to reach a clear agreement. The majority of protesters dispersed, agreeing to continue on August 1.

10:48 pm Demonstrators returned to the Liberty Square, announcing that the rally will continue on August 1, at 7:00 pm.

10:40 pm The demonstrators agreed to continue marching down Mashtots Avenue through Sayat Nova Street to the Liberty Square. The rally participants are followed by police.

10:35 pm The police urged rally participants at Mashtots Avenue to return to the Liberty Square instead of marching down Sayat Nova Street; the police announced that those disobeying the orders will be detained since the route was not agreed beforehand. The protesters, in turn, are refusing to return to Liberty Square. Negotiations are ongoing.

9:28 pm Sasna Tsrer armed group posted the following statement on their Facebook page: “Sasna Tsrer were captured but the struggle is not over. Don’t lose hope and don’t emigrate. The fight will go on.”

It was earlier reported that Sasna Tsrer armed group took a decision to surrender to law enforcement authorities.

On July 30, Armenian law enforcement authorities gave the armed group until 5 pm to lay down their arms or face a large-scale assault on the police compound. The police banned the group supporters’ march to Khorenatsi Street where the seized police compound was located. On July 30, the sound of explosions and gunfire was constantly heard around the police compound. On the evening of July 30 police officer Yura Tepanosyan was killed by sniper gunfire in a police car parked over 1,000 feet away from the seized police compound. Sasna Tsrer deny their involvement.

On July 17, some 30 members of Sasna Tsrer seized the police compound, demanding the release of opposition activist, Karabakh war veteran Jirair Sefilian.

Sefilian, the leader of the Founding Parliament movement, 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.

Sasna Tsrer also demanded the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan and the creation of a transitional government. Also, they wanted the authorities to halt Karabakh negotiations fearing they are going to cede some lands around the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to Azerbaijan.

Those in the building, as well as the deputy police chief of Armenia Vartan Yeghiazaryan and deputy police chief of Yerevan Valeriy Osipyan, who arrived at the site to hold negotiations, were taken hostage by the armed group. On July 23, the armed group released all hostages.

Starting July 17, the Armenian capital saw multiple rallies in support of Sasna Tsrer. On the night of July 29-30, dozens, including journalists, were injured as riot police fired grenades to disperse the demonstrators. 165 people were detained, 26 of them arrested.