Armenian Police has given explanations related to clashes at Khorenatsi Street overnight.
"Armenia's Police inform that 136 citizens were detained on suspicion of using violation against the representatives of authorities. All those citizens whose fault was not proved were set free in the terms set by the law or were presented to the bodies of preliminary investigation. In those cases when there was enough basis proving the suspicion of conducting a crime the investigative bodies used "detention" as a measure of restriction. The number of arrested citizens will be provided later", the statement of the police reads.
To note, clashes occurred between police and the supporters of Sasna Tsrer group at Khorenatsi Street overnight. The demonstrators started to throw stones on the law enforces, when the latter did not answer anything to their request to send food to the armed group. The policemen used special measures to drive off the crowd. The protesters built barricades from trashcans on the territory. According to the Healthcare Ministry 45 injured people including 25 policemen applied to medical centers after clashes at Khorenatsi Street.
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.