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YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS. Police continue negotiating with gunmen who stormed a Police station in Yerevan and are holding hostages. The situation is the same, one police officer hostage has been released previously through negotiations and one civilian – an ambulance driver, Deputy Police Chief of Armenia Hunan Poghosyan told reporters on July 18.
5 police officers are currently held hostage. The demands of the law enforcement agencies is the same – release of all hostages, stop escalating the situation, destabilization. “Negotiations continue. The law enforcement system is able to take all lawful measures”, Poghosyan said.
The Police Chief is not taking part in the negotiations. From the beginning of the incident until now he is at a designated place and is heading all operations. Negotiations are conducted by a contact officer (negotiator), who is negotiating with one of the gunmen.
“The compromise option should be mutual: If they demonstrate willingness for compromise, they will receive an adequate response from us”, Poghosyan said, adding that engaging Zhirayr Sefilyan in the negotiations is out of question.
According to him, citizens who have been detained across the country on July 17 have been released. Some of them were fined, some were summoned for interrogation.
“Those who break public order, will be detained, those who are law abiding citizens, have nothing to worry about”, the deputy chief 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 acquirement of weapons and ammunition. Police Colonel Artur Vanoyan has been killed by the gunmen during the ambush. Colonel Aram Hovhannisyan, Lt. – Colonel Hrach Khosteghyan, Corporal Gagik Mkrtchyan received gunshot wounds. 7 people are being held hostage. There are no wounded among the gunmen.