MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The activists made a barricade from metal elements used for erecting fences by the police. The remaining space between them and the police was filled with private cars and garbage cans. Thus, the roads leading to the police building in which the hostage situation is still occurring are blocked by the police forces and the exit from the territory is under demonstrators' control.
On July 17, an armed group took several police officers hostage at a patrol police station in the capital's district of Erebuni. The hostage takers are demanding the release of Jirair Sefilian, an opposition politician and the founder of the New Armenia Public Salvation Front. Sefilian, who took part in the 1988-1994 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan, is accused of the illegal acquisition and possession of arms.
Police are now maintaining a reinforced control near the police station, having lined up in a row. Commander of the Internal Troops Levon Yeranosyan is also present at the scene.
Some tens of Armenians gathered at a certain distance of the police officers in a bid to prevent them from carrying out a special operation against the armed group.
