Founding Parliament’s posters removed from Freedom Square
17.07.2016,
16:28
Police officers in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan have on Sunday removed the posters of the radical opposition movement called Founding Parliament from the Freedom Square in the downtown after an armed group with links to Zhirayr Sefilian, the jailed leader of the movement, seized a police building in Yerevan on Sunday, killing one policemen and taking several more hostage, including top officers.
YEREVAN, July 17. /ARKA/. Police officers in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan have on Sunday removed the posters of the radical opposition movement called Founding Parliament from the Freedom Square in the downtown after an armed group with links to Zhirayr Sefilian, the jailed leader of the movement, seized a police building in Yerevan on Sunday, killing one policemen and taking several more hostage, including top officers.
The posters had been placed there a few months ago with two-three activists of the movement staying there round the clock and calling for the all-national fight against the authorities.
Former defense minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan condemned the attack today saying it is weakening the foundations of the state.
"With negotiations over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict underway, such moves are harmful from all points of view,’ Harutyunyan said in a televised interview.
According to him, these actions weaken the foundations of the state and encourage Azerbaijan in its efforts to unleash a war.
"Our society needs to assess the situation correctly and refrain from any steps that could harm us,’ he said.
Nikol Pashinyan, an opposition lawmaker who met the hostage-takers, told journalists that the group had taken eight police hostage but released one who was suffering from high blood pressure.
According to some reports, the group was demanding the release of Zhirair Sefilyan, arrested last month for alleged possession of firearms.
Armenia's deputy police chief General Major Vardan Egiazaryan and Yerevan deputy police chief Colonel Valeri Osipyan, were being held as hostages. One of the gunmen, has been seriously wounded, according to Pashinyan. -0-
The posters had been placed there a few months ago with two-three activists of the movement staying there round the clock and calling for the all-national fight against the authorities.
Former defense minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan condemned the attack today saying it is weakening the foundations of the state.
"With negotiations over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict underway, such moves are harmful from all points of view,’ Harutyunyan said in a televised interview.
According to him, these actions weaken the foundations of the state and encourage Azerbaijan in its efforts to unleash a war.
"Our society needs to assess the situation correctly and refrain from any steps that could harm us,’ he said.
Nikol Pashinyan, an opposition lawmaker who met the hostage-takers, told journalists that the group had taken eight police hostage but released one who was suffering from high blood pressure.
According to some reports, the group was demanding the release of Zhirair Sefilyan, arrested last month for alleged possession of firearms.
Armenia's deputy police chief General Major Vardan Egiazaryan and Yerevan deputy police chief Colonel Valeri Osipyan, were being held as hostages. One of the gunmen, has been seriously wounded, according to Pashinyan. -0-
