yerevan armenia
© Vahram Baghdasaryan / Photolure / ReutersAn armed man stands inside the Erebuni police station seized by "Sasna Tsrer" movement members in Yerevan, Armenia, July 23, 2016.
The standoff in the Armenian capital of Yerevan between militants of the radical opposition organization "Constitutive Parliament" and security forces is ongoing. The holding hostage of security personnel has given rise to the organization of street confrontations against the acting government in the style of the Ukrainian "Maidan."

The standoff continues

The bandits continue to remain on the territory of the occupied police unit in the Erebuni district. Yesterday, they burned the fourth police car. They are still demanding the release of prominent warlord Jirayr Sefilianan and the resignation of the government. Rallies of the pro-American opposition in support of extremists are being organized nearby. Another march in support of the militants was held yesterday.

The risk of new attacks

The Yerevan TV Tower has been put under heavy guard which indicates that the government fears new armed actions. The elimination of the terrorists, most of whom are veterans of the Karabakh war, could provoke an increase in protests. On the other hand, leaving the terrorists with impunity would give a carte blanche to other armed groups. The Armenian authorities are faced with difficult choices.


Comment: The following articles add more detail to the current situation in Yerevan. Keep in mind that the first comes from the BBC.


What do the citizens of Armenia think of the armed group holding the police station?

The situation in Yerevan remains tense. The armed group Sasna Tsrer released all their hostages yesterday, yet the authorities are still in no hurry to storm the police station. One reason is the broad support the representatives of the armed group among the people of Armenia.
...
Our correspondent Nina Akhmeteli interviewed several passersby on the streets of Yerevan, trying, without any success, to find someone who would disapprove of the actions of the armed group Sasna Tsrer.


Comment: We wonder how hard she tried...


Armenian protesters, demanding resignation of president, prevented by police from bringing in Molotov cocktails

Armenian Police are requesting moving the rally supporting the besiegers of the police station away from Khorenatsi street to another site. In a statement, the police noted that subsequent to the seizure of the police HQ a number of protests were held which were not of a declared nature. [Understatement! --tr]

During the protest on July 20 an armed group of people, overtly aggressive, brought with them stones and other objects, and attacked the police, trying to take away their equipment, leaving about 50 people injured. Police were forced to use special means for suppressing the riots, as they included threats to human life and health.

Outside of that, as a result of the investigation that followed the attack on the police headquarters, it has become known that the group is being managed by outside personnel, carrying out criminal activity in order to create panic and disorder.

So, one of those ones arrested on July 21 tried to smuggle a grenade into the closed off portion of Khorenatsi street, but his criminal actions were prevented in time. Then on July 22 a citizen tried to deliver Molotov cocktal bottles to the same spot.

There is evidence that firebombs were intended to break the police cordon, penetrate the closed zone and getting weapons to the armed group inside. Based on the above, the Police of Armenia state that there is the immediate threat of a sharp aggravation of the situation at the closed section of Khorenatsi Street, which would entail unpredictable consequences.


Comment: As the standoff continued, shots were fired on July 26 from the police building occupied by the armed hostage-takers. (See this RFE/RL article for some background and slightly biased background.) Despite saying that they would not surrender until their demands were met, two of the armed men did surrender after a brief shootout. Negotiations with the rest of the men holding the police station are ongoing.