Police officer shot dead in Yerevan siege as gunmen ignore surrender deadline

The gunmen, who are supporters of jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan, have been holding hostages in a Yerevan police building since July 17.

Police vehicles are stationed outside the Erebuni police station in Yerevan where gunmen shot dead an officer on July 30, 2016. Karen Minasyan/AFP

YEREVAN // One of the gunmen locked in a protracted siege with police in the Armenian capital shot dead an officer on Saturday, hours after authorities issued an ultimatum to resolve the hostage situation.

“A sniper opened fire from inside the police station and killed a police officer who was sitting in a car parked 350-400 metres away,” said police spokesman Ashot Aharonyan.

Earlier on Saturday, Armenia’s security services gave the pro-opposition gunmen a deadline to surrender after dozens were hurt and arrested in overnight clashes.

“We are giving members of the armed group until 5pm ­(local time) to lay down their arms and surrender,” the security services said.

“Otherwise special forces law enforcement have the right to open fire.”

“After the events of July 29, any opportunities to resolve the situation with the terrorists peacefully have been exhausted,” they added.

Dozens were injured and 26 arrested in the early hours of Saturday after authorities broke up a rally near the police station, where the gunmen have been holding several hostages for almost two weeks.

More than 70 people were taken to various hospitals around the capital to be treated for injuries, including burns and broken limbs.

“Out of 73 injured people, 26 are still in hospital, including six policemen,” said health ministry spokeswoman Anahit Haytayan.

Police used truncheons, stun grenades and smoke bombs to break up the demonstration in support of the gunmen who are holding two medics.

Journalists were among those hurt. A house also caught on fire in the neighbourhood, a residential area.

Earlier on Friday, police had exchanged fire with the gunmen, wounding two, who were taken to hospital under armed guard.

Authorities said they had launched a criminal investigation into 23 of the protesters, including a member of the pro-Western Heritage party Armen Martirosyan.

The Armenian ombudsman, however, accused police of heavy-handed tactics against journalists during the protest, and said plain-clothes officers prevented media from covering the event.

The gunmen, who are supporters of jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan, stormed the police building on July 17, killing one officer, taking several more hostage and seizing a store of weapons.

They had freed all of their police hostages but on Wednesday seized four medical staff who had entered the compound to treat some of their wounds, two of whom were later released.

The group has demanded the resignation of president Serzh Sarkisian and Sefilyan’s release. Protesters have regularly gathered in the neighbourhood, voicing similar calls.

Sefilyan and six of his supporters were arrested last month, accused of preparing to seize government buildings and telecoms facilities.

The hostage crisis and violence has shaken the small landlocked ex-Soviet country, just months after a surge in conflict with Azerbaijan killed 110 people dead in April.

The US embassy in Yerevan and the European Union also called for an end to the stand-off.

“Use of force and violence to achieve political change are not acceptable,” said an EU spokesman said. “Conflicts need to be resolved through political dialogue with a respect for democracy, rule of law and fundamental freedoms.”

* Agence France-Presse