Sasna Tsrer lay down arms

On the morning of July 17, an armed group calling themselves Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoun) seized a police compound in Yerevan’s district of Erebuni demanding the release of Karabakh war veteran, the Founding Parliament movement leader Jirair Sefilian accused of illegal possession of firearms. Sasna Tsrer also demanded the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan and cancellation of talks to cede some lands around the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to Azerbaijan.

Those in the building, as well as the deputy police chief of Armenia Vartan Yeghiazaryan and deputy police chief of Yerevan Valeriy Osipyan, who arrived at the site to hold negotiations, were taken hostage by the armed group. On July 23, the armed group released all hostages. On July 27, 4 ambulance personnel were held in the police building. However, paramedic David Tonoyan was released on the evening of the same day, while doctor Salvador Khechoyan was let go on July 29.

Throughout the 2-week siege of the police compound, rallies were staged in support of Sasna Tsrer. On the night of July 29-30, dozens, including journalists, were injured as riot police fired grenades to disperse the demonstrators. 165 people were detained, 26 of them arrested.