YEREVAN (A.W.)—A shootout outside the occupied police station in Yerevan’s Erebuni district on the early morning of July 26 resulted in the wounding of two of the armed gunmen of the “Sasna Tsrer” opposition group, who have seized the station since July 17. Following the shootout, both men surrendered to law enforcement authorities and were hospitalized.
Screenshot from a police video of a shooting incident outside the occupied Yerevan police station (Photo: RFE/RL)
A statement released by the Yerevan police said that in the evening of July 25, between 10 p.m. and midnight, the members of the armed group burned a police bus, which was parked outside the station, then drove two cars into the street and set those on fire as well. The statement also said that shots were periodically fired from inside the compound.
According to the police, security forces began opening fire when a police vehicle driven by one of the gunmen emerged from the occupied station and approached a group of officers.
“The vehicle almost reached the cordon, after which law enforcers fired on its engine and tires in order to stop the car and stave off a serious danger emanating from three armed men seated inside it,” read a part of the statement, which added that two of the gunmen were wounded in the leg as a result of the incident.
The opposition Founding Parliament group, which is closely affiliated with the armed “Sasna Tsrer” group, confirmed that a shootout had taken place, but shared few details.
Hours before the shootout,on the evening of July 25, thousands of demonstrators marched in Yerevan in support of the armed opposition group. Protesters marched from near the police station to the city center and back, chanting slogans calling for the resignation of President Serge Sarkisian and in support of the armed opposition group.
Source: Armenian Weekly
Link: Two Gunmen Wounded in Shootout with Officers at Seized Yerevan Police Station