armenia hostage crisis
© Ruptly
Clashes have erupted between protesters and police in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. People erected barricades next to a police station that was hijacked by armed men on July 17 and which is still under their control.

People have been throwing stones at police, while law enforcement officials lobbed stun grenades in return. Several people were injured during the stand off with police, TASS reported.

Protesters are said to be the supporters of hijackers who are currently inside the police station, News Armenia reported, as cited by Russia's RBK news outlet.


Police have meanwhile managed to bring the situation under control, TASS reported. The agency cites police as saying that dozens of people were detained following the violence.

A group of armed men seized a police station and hostages in Yerevan on Sunday, killing one law enforcement officer and injuring two others.

The attack was launched to demand the release of Armenian opposition figure Jirayr Sefilyan, who was detained last month after authorities allegedly uncovered a plot to seize several buildings and telecommunication facilities in Yerevan.

Interfax reports that supporters of Sefilyan cordoned off the road next to the occupied police station, carrying banners with pictures of the hijackers.