Armed Rebellion Again: This Time in Armenia

EghtesadOnline: One person was killed and several were injured after a group of armed men captured Armenian police headquarter and internal troops center in Yerevan.

News ID: ۷۶۸۲۱۳

17 July 2016

The group of armed men seized the building of police and internal troops in Yerevan, demanding the release of arrested of the coordinator of the opposition Armenian civil initiative ‘Founding Parliament’ Zhirayr Sefilyan, Interfax reported.

Sefilyan was arrested June 20 for possession of weapons.

All social media networks are down and internet is too slow. Police say they have blocked the social media because the rebels had tried to convince the public that it is not a confined move, but a coup.

Representatives of the authorities have entered into talks with the attackers, according to an official statement from Armenia’s National Security Service.

People are being evacuated from apartment buildings near the scene, local media report.

Sefilyan’s supporters had declared earlier that they intended to “change the state of things in Armenia” by inciting “an armed rebellion.”

It is also being reported that police chief Valery Osipyan is being held hostage.

According to sources, snipers have been seen gathering near the building.

Later, two hostages have been released by the Armenian special forces.