Security Forces Continue ‘Intensive Negotiations’ with Erebuni Gunmen

Representatives of Armenia’s law enforcement agencies continue intensive negotiations with the members of the armed group that seized on June 17 the police station in Yerevan’s Erebuni district to arrange their surrender to the authorities and the release of the hostages without having to undertake any special operations, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the National Security Service.

“Law enforcement agencies are doing their best to prevent further bloodshed; they have sufficient capacity and capability to implement their tasks.

“The National Security Service urges everyone not to intervene in matters which are exclusively within the jurisdiction of the competent authorities, not to interfere with the proper and effective implementation of their activities, thus helping to achieve the desired final outcome, “ the statement reads.

Alek Yenigomshyan, a Founding Parliament member who has been acting as a mediator between the NSS and the "Daredevils of Sasun" armed group, told reporters Tuesday morning that he was having trouble establishing a phone connection with the gunmen so he feared that authorities intended to break off the negotiations and storm the police station. Later in the day, however, he informed journalists that the NSS had assured him the negotiations with the group would continue.