YEREVAN. – French Ambassador Jean-François Charpentier expressed the hope that the events taking place these days in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, will be resolved quickly and peacefully.

“For several days, the [French embassy in Yerevan] embassy closely follows the incidents in Erebuni [district of the city],” Charpentier told RFE/RL Armenian service.  “I can only hope that they have a quick and pacific solution.”

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.

Clashes have ensued between police and protesters since this takeover.