Public Council urges all sides to start a dialogue

The Armenian Public Council members think that the best option to peacefully settle the situation that arose after the seizure of the Patrol-Guard Service building in Yerevan is to hold negotiations and to establish a dialogue.  

The Public Council's statement sent to ArmInfo says that the Public Council is willing to contribute to settlement of the current tense situation in the society and in the country without any shocks.  

"The Public Council thinks that following the settlement of the current situation, it is necessary to establish a dialogue between the public and the authorities regarding topical problems, particularly, the Karabakh conflict settlement," the source says.   

To recall, on July 17, Artsakh war hero Zhirayr Sefilyan's armed supporters, who are calling themselves "Sasna Tsrer" (The Daredevils of Sasun), seized the building of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment in Erebuni district of Yerevan. They demand releasing Sefilyan, who was arrested on June 20 on suspicion of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition. The armed group is still holding police as hostages. Deputy Head of the Patrol- Guard Service Regiment, Colonel Artur Vanoyan was killed in the incident. Armenian MP Nikol Pashinyan says that during his visit to the Erebuni Police Department building he saw 26 members of the "Sasna Tsrer" group.    

The access routes to the building are still blocked and the police are on combat duty. Dozens of people spent the night in the territory adjacent to the building to support Sasna Tsrer. On July 19 evening, protests developed into clashes between the residents of Sari Tagh district and the law enforcers. 4 policemen were hospitalized with injuries.

On June 20, 2016, Zhirayr Sefilyan was detained on suspicion of organizing a criminal group. 8 persons face charges of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition. 6 have been arrested and 1 is wanted.  According to the Special Investigative Service of Armenia, Sefilyan and his supporters were planning to seize buildings of state importance in early April. Two-month arrest has been chosen as a measure of restraint against Sefilyan, however, his supporters think the case is a frame-up and the arrest is political persecution for his political views, activities and statements about the territorial losses the Armenian side suffered during the April war.