National Security Service: Special operations units on the alert

 As of 5 pm, the armed group that seized the building of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment in Erebuni district of Yerevan is still holding several policemen as hostages. “The representatives of the authorized state structures continue the negotiations, trying to persuade the terrorists to refrain from further actions that can endanger human life and health, as well as to free the hostages, lay down arms and give in without a struggle,” the statement says, noting that the special operations units are on the alert, but they have received no order to attack the building or to take any other steps.  

To note, Artsakh war hero Zhirayr Sefilyan's armed supporters, who seized the building of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment in Erebuni district of Yerevan on Sunday morning, demand that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan should resign and a government of national confidence should be formed. The Armenian National Security Service reported that one policeman has been killed and two hostages have been freed. The victim was Deputy Head of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment, Colonel Artur Vanoyan. 

Actually, the information that Deputy Chief of Armenian Police, General Vardan Yeghiazaryan was taken hostage has proved to be false. The gunmen are holding Deputy Chief of Yerevan Police Valery Osipyan as a hostage. The armed group is headed by Zhirayr Sefilyan's supporters, Artsakh war veterans Varuzhan Avetisyan and Pavlik Manukyan.   

Some media outlets report that the group members are not going to negotiate with the authorities until Sefilyan is released from arrest and until he assumes the mission of negotiating with the authorities. Meanwhile, the territory is cordoned off by the Police troops and trucks, which obstruct the view.