Helicopter seen hovering above seized police building (video)
A helicopter was seen hovering above the seized police building early on Monday. It circled above the building and left the area. The police premises in Yerevan’s Erebuni district remains blockaded for the tenth day. On Sunday evening, members of the Sasna Dzrer group occupying the police station since July 17 burnt a police vehicle as a sign of protest to the actions against them. The group reported that electricity had been cut to the police building and they had nothing to eat. Besides, law enforcement units had attempted to storm the building earlier in the day. Chief of the Armenian Police Vladimir Gasparyan was seen entering the area controlled by the gunmen late at night. He drove away some time later. The situation was calm in the street in the early hours of July 25 though random shots are heard in the area.
About 20 armed men affiliated with Jirayr Sefilyan’s Founding Parliament movement, stormed and seized a police station in Yerevan’s Erebuni district on July 17, demanding the release of their leader and resignation of Serzh Sargsyan. The group calling itself Sasna Dzrer several police officers hostage in the late night attack that left another policeman dead. The gunmen also demanded that the authorities free all political prisoners. They released the four remaining hostages on Saturday as part of negotiations brokered by Artsakh war participants Vitaly Balasanyan.
