- publish: 17 July 2016
- time: 1:18 pm
- category: International
- No: 3995
Attempted coup in Armenia, Armed men stormed Yerevan Police HQ
A group of armed men from an opposition group stormed a district police headquarters in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, early in the morning on July 17, the National Security Service said in a statement.
The statement said the attackers are holding several hostages in the Erebuni police station, adding that “negotiations are under way to release them peacefully.”
The opposition group Founding Parliament issued a statement demanding the release of the group’s leader, Zhirayr Sefilian, who was arrested last month on charges of seeking to overthrow the government by force.
Varuzhan Avetisian, a spokesman for the group, has also announced that “they are starting a rebellion” and an attempt to “overthrow the government” and “release political prisoners.”
Police have cordoned off the area.