Night was calm near the seized building of the Patrol Police Station in Yerevan's Erebuni district. According to ArmInfo's correspondent, the operation for disarming the group calling itself "Daredevils of Sasoun" that seized the police station building on July 17 enters day 6, while 4 police officers, including Deputy Chairman of Yerevan Police Valery Osipyan and Deputy Head of Armenian Police Vardan Yeghiazarya, are still hostages.
The police cordon is still near the seized building. Dozens of citizens supporting "Daredevils of Sasoun" spent the night in the adjacent territory. Earlier yesterday, the demonstrators held public discussions and agreed to form a 'professional organization committee' to manage the process. In addition, after long negotiations with the Police, a decision was achieved to supply food to "Daredevils of Sasoun." It is noteworthy that the number of supporters of the armed group is growing with every day.
To recall, on July 17, Artsakh war hero Zhirayr Sefilyan's armed supporters, who are calling themselves "Sasna Tsrer" (The Daredevils of Sasun), seized the building of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment in Erebuni district of Yerevan. They demand releasing Sefilyan, who was arrested on June 20 on suspicion of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition. The armed group is still holding police as hostages. Deputy Head of the Patrol- Guard Service Regiment, Colonel Artur Vanoyan was killed in the incident.
Armenian MP Nikol Pashinyan says that during his visit to the Erebuni Police Department building he saw 26 members of the "Sasna Tsrer" group.
On June 20, 2016, Zhirayr Sefilyan was detained on suspicion of organizing a criminal group. 8 persons face charges of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition. 6 have been arrested and 1 is wanted. According to the Special Investigative Service of Armenia, Sefilyan and his supporters were planning to seize buildings of state importance in early April. Two-month arrest has been chosen as a measure of restraint against Sefilyan, however, his supporters think the case is a frame-up and the arrest is political persecution for his political views, activities and statements about the territorial losses the Armenian side suffered during the April war.