Sefilian speaks for Radio Liberty to present his stance on situation in Yerevan
27.07.2016,
12:13
Zhirayr Sefilian, the leader of The Founding Parliament organization, states that from the very first day of the seizure of the police regiment territory in Yerevan, he is expressing his willingness to make every effort to solve the problem without bloodshed.
YEREVAN, July 27. /ARKA/. Zhirayr Sefilian, the leader of The Founding Parliament organization, states that from the very first day of the seizure of the police regiment territory in Yerevan, he is expressing his willingness to make every effort to solve the problem without bloodshed.
He told Radio Liberty through his lawyer Ara Zakaryan, Zhirayr Sefilian said: “I hope the authorities will change their mind soon and will enter into negotiations,” he said. “Now I don’t want to go into details of negotiations not to put this process at risk. We have a clear political program to solve this problem peacefully.”
He said that the authorities are dragging their legs in starting negotiations and any delay leads to escalation of tension, and in such circumstances new clashes and new victims are likely.
“If so, the authorities’ gilt will be irrefutable,” he said.
Sasna Tsrer, the group of armed men, stormed the police regiment territory on July 17 and took some officers hostage, demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilian, the jailed opposition leader of Founding Parliament movement, and the resignation of the president.
According to the police, one police officer had been killed and five others and one attacker wounded in the assault.
Two top police officials, Armenian Deputy Police Chief Vardan Egiazaryan and Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan, were among the hostages.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the territory to bar the law enforcement units from storming the building and to prevent а bloody outcome.
The police units cleaned up the territory of demonstrators Wednesday night and detained dozens of people.
As many as 51 people injured in the clashes, including 28 policemen, received medical services that night. On the next day people gathered again.
All the hostages have gradually been released by the rebels.
On Monday and Tuesday, thousands of people in Yerevan took to the streets and marched demanding the release of Zhirair Sefilian and the resignation of the president.
Tuesday night the Sasna Tsrer leader Pavel Manukyan and his son Aram were wounded in by the police and are now in a hospital under intensive care.
According to the police, other two members of the group surrendered. --0----
He told Radio Liberty through his lawyer Ara Zakaryan, Zhirayr Sefilian said: “I hope the authorities will change their mind soon and will enter into negotiations,” he said. “Now I don’t want to go into details of negotiations not to put this process at risk. We have a clear political program to solve this problem peacefully.”
He said that the authorities are dragging their legs in starting negotiations and any delay leads to escalation of tension, and in such circumstances new clashes and new victims are likely.
“If so, the authorities’ gilt will be irrefutable,” he said.
Sasna Tsrer, the group of armed men, stormed the police regiment territory on July 17 and took some officers hostage, demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilian, the jailed opposition leader of Founding Parliament movement, and the resignation of the president.
According to the police, one police officer had been killed and five others and one attacker wounded in the assault.
Two top police officials, Armenian Deputy Police Chief Vardan Egiazaryan and Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Valeri Osipyan, were among the hostages.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the territory to bar the law enforcement units from storming the building and to prevent а bloody outcome.
The police units cleaned up the territory of demonstrators Wednesday night and detained dozens of people.
As many as 51 people injured in the clashes, including 28 policemen, received medical services that night. On the next day people gathered again.
All the hostages have gradually been released by the rebels.
On Monday and Tuesday, thousands of people in Yerevan took to the streets and marched demanding the release of Zhirair Sefilian and the resignation of the president.
Tuesday night the Sasna Tsrer leader Pavel Manukyan and his son Aram were wounded in by the police and are now in a hospital under intensive care.
According to the police, other two members of the group surrendered. --0----
