YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS. The funeral of fallen Police Colonel Artur Vanoyan, who was shot dead when gunmen stormed a Police station in Yerevan, took place in Abovyan city.

Police Chief of Armenia Vladimir Gasparyan, MP Michael Melkumyan, MP Naira Zohrabyan and others attended the funeral.

Neighbors described Colonel Vanoyan as an exemplary and modest man.

“He’d always reach out a helping hand to neighbors, he was a good parent. It is very bad that a soldier kills a soldier or a police officer kills a police officer”, Gyulnara Aylazyan told ARMENPRESS.

Police engineer Martik Vahradyan worked with the Colonel since 1998. “Knowing him, I can say that we have never seen any bad action from him. There are very few people like him in Armenia. He was one of the very first during the war”, he said.

In the morning of July 17 gunmen stormed a Police HQ in Yerevan and took hostages – demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilyan, who was imprisoned a month ago, charged with illegal possession, transportation and acquisition of firearms and ammunition.

Police Colonel Artur Vanoyan has been killed by the gunmen during the ambush.

Colonel Vanoyan was born in 1967. He graduated the Agricultural Academy and the Russian Interior Ministry’s Management Academy. He began serving in the Police force in 1995. Was awarded many times for excellent service. Colonel Vanoyan was married with three children.