YEREVAN. – The Republic of Armenia National Security Service (RA NSS) on Tuesday issued a statement on the latest situation in connection with the recent armed attack on a police station in capital city Yerevan.

“At this time, representatives of the RA law enforcement agencies continue conducting intensive negotiations with members of the armed group, with the objective of organizing their surrendering to the authorities and releasing the hostages, without carrying out special operations.

“The RA law enforcement agencies are doing everything possible to keep the armed group away from new bloodshed, and they have sufficient capacity and capability to carry out the tasks set before them,” the NSS statement specifically reads.

A group of armed men stormed into a Yerevan police regiment, on early morning on July 17, and took several police officers hostage. Deputy regiment commander Artur Vanoyan was killed, and four other police officers 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.

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