YEREVAN. – The situation is worrisome, said Prime Minister of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan, at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.

Abrahamyan noted this reflecting on an armed group’s taking over a police station in capital city Yerevan.

“What happened is impermissible and reprehensible, since it is impossible to achieve real change through violence,” noted the PM. “The situation is worrisome, and the authorities have done and will do everything to achieve a peaceful solution.”

Hovik Abrahamyan also extended condolences to the relatives and friends of the police colonel who was killed during the said takeover.

A group of armed men stormed into a Yerevan police patrol regiment, on early morning on July 17, and took several police officers hostage. Deputy regiment commander Artur Vanoyan was killed, and four other officers of the law plus one of the attackers were wounded during the ensuing gunfire exchange. 

Negotiations are still underway to release all hostages and end the armed resistance. Four people are still held hostage.

The gunmen demand the release of Jirair Sefilian, an imprisoned radical opposition activist.