Armenian Security Service Arrests 47 People Over July Police Station Seizure

The Armenian National Security Service detained 47 people as part of a criminal suit launched following the police station seizure and hostage situation in Armenia's capital of Yerevan in mid-July, according to a statement published Monday on the agency’s website.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The police station in Yerevan’s Erebuni district was held by an armed group since July 17, when several traffic police officers were taken hostage inside the building. A policeman was killed and six more people were injured, including five police officers. The group released all hostages by July 23.

"The Armenian National Security Service states that in the criminal case into seizure of the patrol police service’s regiment by the armed group…47 people have been detained or arrested," the statement reads.

The group demanded the resignation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and liberation of Jirair Sefilian, an opposition politician and founder of the New Armenia Public Salvation Front arrested over illegal arms storage. A number of rallies were held in Yerevan in support of the armed group, resulting in clashes with police and over a hundred arrests.

On Sunday, the group surrendered and the Armenian security service liberated the police station.