YEREVAN (Sputnik) – Earlier, it was reported that several people were injured when protesters rallying near the seized police building in Yerevan on Wednesday clashed with law enforcement. The protesters were throwing rocks and pieces of heavy debris at police, while law enforcement officers responded with warning shots and flash-bang grenades.
"Out of the 45 people who have arrived at hospitals, 25 are police officers," the ministry said, adding that 18 of the injured were taken to the hospital by ambulance while the rest came on their own.
On July 17, an armed group took several police officers hostage at a patrol police station in Yerevan’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.