Armenia's National Security Service said on Friday, July 29 that it has arrested a person providing criminal assistance to the gunmen who have seized a police HQ in Yerevan.

The group 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 to Azerbaijan.

According to the NSS, a person identified by his initials as M. M., was in constant contact with two members of the armed group.

“He was planning to encourage protesters to break through the police cordon on July 24, join the gunmen and take up arms,” the Security Service said in a message.

“Moreover, human fatalities were to be registered.”

In its message, the NSS urged civilians against succumbing to provocations and interfering with the activities of the law enforcement authorities.

Two groups of people complicit with the gunmen were arrested earlier.