YEREVAN. – All the injured were given proper medical treatment after Wednesday’s clashes between people and police nearby the capital city Yerevan police station, which an armed group has taken over and is holding hostages.
Minister of Health of Armenia Armen Muradyan told about the above-said to reporters, after Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.
“As of 9am, [a total of] 51 people, 29 of whom police officers, applied to medical facilities; everyone received proper medical care,” said Muradyan. “At the moment we don’t have very critical, or life-threatening, cases.”
As for those who were injured during the takeover of the said police station on July 17, the minister said: “In connection with the events on Sunday, [police officer] Gagik Mkrtchyan’s situation was critical. But today it seems there is a positive trend [in his state of health], and he could be disconnected from the artificial respiration apparatus during the day.”
In his words, ambulances stand nearby the said police station on Thursday, too, and they can provide medical assistance if need be.
“Medical aid will not be inaccessible to anyone,” added Armen Muradyan.
As reported earlier, clashes had begun between police and protesters nearby the Yerevan police station, which an armed group has taken over on July 17, on Wednesday at around 9:30pm.
Police threw stun grenades, took special measures, and used tear gas to disperse protesters.
As of Thursday 2:30am, the number of people taken to hospitals as a result of these clashes was 51, and 28 of them were police officers.
At around 4am, police began to clear the street running in front of the said police station from the demonstrators. Law enforcement started quickly detaining protesters, but force was used against some people. Journalists were affected, too.
Protesters were also detained from two other nearby streets.
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.
