Members of opposition group threaten with civil disobedience throughout Armenia

A member of the Coordination Group of the Founding Parliament opposition initiative, Alek Yenigomshyan, has held a spontaneous press conference in Khorenatsi Street where the armed loyalist of the jailed oppositionist Jirayr Sefilyan seized the patrol service station on July 17.  

In his words, the Founding Parliament cannot contact the members of the armed group for about 10 hours, as the seized building receives no electricity supply, no food and medical aid. The telephone communication has been cut since past night. Yenigomshyan is sure that authorities are escalating the situation.

In addition, Yenigomshyan said there was an attempt to destroy the wall of the seized building overnight. Besides, a helicopter with snipers on board was making circles over the seized building.  All this shows that the authorities have no intention to hold peaceful talks. 

"The situation may changes drastically at any moment. We do hope the ruling regime will be reasonable and it will avoid bloodshed. Otherwise, it may become fatal for Armenia," he said.

In this light, the Founding Parliament initiative warns to spark civil disobedience throughout the country, unless the armed group is supplied with food, water, medicine and medical aid by 8:00pm.  They urge the people to gather in Khorenatsi Street in the evening to decide upon further steps. 

The standoff entered day 9, and there is still police cordon near the seized building of the patrol police station.  On July 23, Daredevils of Sasoun armed group has released all the hostages, including Deputy Chief of Police of Armenia Major General Vardan Yeghiazaryan and Deputy Chief of Police of Yerevan Colonel Valery Osipyan. 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. Avetisyan said an agreement was made to create a press center in the territory of the seized building. After the first meeting with media, the agreement was cancelled by both sides, as Vitaly Balsanyan, who was a moderator at that moment, said the armed group did not observe the main demand of the authorities and failed to meet with media without weapons.  They demonstrated their arms and even made shots in the air, Balasanyan said.