Opposition MP faces lawsuit for inciting riots during Yerevan rally

PanARMENIAN.Net - A criminal case on charges of inciting riots was opened against an opposition MP from Armenia's Heritage party, Armen Martirosyan, who was coordinating a rally to a seized police department in Yerevan.

Supporters of gunmen who are holding the police HQ marched on Friday, July 29 evening.

The gunmen are members of the Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) 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. Also, they want the authorities to halt Karabakh negotiations fearing they are going to cede some lands around the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to Azerbaijan.

On July 27, the gunmen took 4 paramedics hostage, and released only one of them the next day.

Martirosyan was detained on Friday alongside other participants of the protest action, arrested and is currently held at a temporary police detention facility.

After urging the demonstrators to leave the area, the police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the public.