YEREVAN. – Intolerance in society has become so powerful that people think political problems can be solved by such methods.

Minister of Economy of Armenia Artsvik Minasyan told about the abovementioned to reporters, after Thursday’s Cabinet session, commenting on the present-day situation regarding the armed takeover of a capital city Yerevan police station.

In his words, there were apparent troublemakers who provoke clashes, and these people violate everyone’s rights.

“Even if we assume that this is a political problem, it’s apparent that this is not the way,” added Minasyan.

The minister also stressed that it is inappropriate to combine these incidents with the national liberation struggle, and that these incidents “distort everything,” and “making such comparisons is a blow to national dignity.”

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.