  Gunmen in Yerevan release doctor, still hold three paramedics captive July 27, 2016 - 23:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Davit Tonoyan, one of the members of the medical staff taken hostage by an armed group in a seized police department in Yerevan, was released on Wednesday, July 27 evening, health ministry spokeswoman Anahit Haytayan said in a Facebook post. 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. Earlier on Wednesday, the members of the armed group took several doctors hostage and agreed to release them in exchange for the Health Minister and as soon as surgeries are organized on the territory of the seized patrol unit. However, the police banned Minister Armen Muradyan from entering the territory of the seized police headquarters in Yerevan "so that the number of captives doesn’t grow." Related links:   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 |  Latest news Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24  U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says.CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.”Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |
