Monday, July 25 2016 03:37

Democratic Party of Armenia has made a political statement wherein it addressed the situation in Yerevan where the armed group calling itself "Daredevils of Sasoun" has seized the building of the Police Patrol Service Regiment.  The party warns that Big Powers and the enemies do not miss the chance to take advantage of Armenia's mistakes. 

"Every time when the country overcomes a regular crisis, the authorities think that the public is too weak and disappointed at permanent injustice to revolt," the Party says in the statement adding that the opposition parties have been undermined and now satellite political parties try to fill that gap. 

"As the facts of opponents were ignored, the political polemics has faded away. Consequently, marginal groups and radical persons have emerged. Therefore, we are convinced that an immediate open dialogue between the authorities and the public is the only intermediate solution to the situation. This will give the authorities a chance to make fundamental changes demanded by the people, including in the Karabakh talks. Otherwise, the country will lose its immunity against external and internal challenges and the public will demand snap elections," the Democratic Party of Armenia says.

The standoff has entered day 8 after 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 and took hostages, including high-ranking police officers.  The group of 26 people demand releasing Sefilyan, who was arrested on June 20 on suspicion of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition, as well as resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan.
On July 23, "Daredevils of Sasoun" released the last two hostages -Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia Major General Vardan Yeghiazaryan and Deputy Chief of Police of Yerevan Colonel Valery Osipyan.  Varuzhan Avetisyan, a member of the armed group said the decision was adopted after a meeting with Georgy Kutoyan, the head of the National Security Service of Armenia, moderated by Major General Vitaly Balasanyan, the Karabakh War Hero. 

Later on the same day, talking to journalists, members of "Daredevils of Sasoun" said they are not going to put down arms and still demand the release of Jirayr Sefilyan and resignation of the president.  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.  

Thousands of supporters of the armed group of the Karabakh War veterans gather in the Khorenatsi Street where the seized building is located.  On July 24 late in the evening, the group burnt a police car, Alek Yenigomshyan, a member of the Founding Parliament movement, said at a meeting on the Khorenatsi Street late in the evening yesterday.  He said it was an action of protest, as after releasing all the four hostages, the armed group was deprived of electricity, food supply and medical aid to their wounded member.  
Earlier, Artsakh War Hero Major General Vitaly Balasanyan who acted as negotiator said the authorities are committed to negotiations with the group for a peaceful resolution of the situation.