Gunmen refuse to release police HQ hostages in YerevanJuly 17, 2016 - 16:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - One of the members of the group that stormed a police HQ in the Armenian capital said negotiations are still underway with the law enforcement authorities on Sunday, July 17. According to Pavel Manukyan, the National Security Service has offered to take the gunmen to Jirayr Sefilyan but they have refused and demand instead that Sefilian be released. Also, Manukyan said they have required journalists but the police have refused to fulfill their demand. He said two of their own people were wounded during the shootout. Manukyan said the situation is calm inside the police HQ which they stormed and seized early in the morning. "We are wearing bulletproof vests and chatting on political and non-political topics with the hostages," he said. In response to a question on whether they are going to release the captives, Manukyan gave a negative response. "They should be well aware that we are ready to sacrifice ourselves," he said. Asked if they are sorry for the officer killed in the shootout, the gunman said: "We are sorry for everything." Commenting on a possible attack which could endanger the lives of the hostages, Manukyan said "everything is possible." Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |