YEREVAN. – The trial of the criminal case of the 10 members of the Sasna Tsrer armed group has resumed today at a Yerevan court of first instance.

Currently, defendants Armen Bilyan and Smbat Barseghyan, who are charged with murdering police officers, are still in custody.

The motions rescheduled in previous sessions are being considered at today’s hearing.

The court is in the process of completing the trial and making additions to the motions.

The court went to the consultation room to render a decision

The defendants were questioned at the several previous hearings.

After the revolution in Armenia in 2018, and based on the personal pledges submitted by MPs, the pretrial measure of custody that was in force for seven other members was commuted and they were released, while Sasna Tsrer member Pavel Manukyan was set free on a 1mn-dram bail.

In protest of the then authorities, the Sasna Tsrer armed group took over a police patrol regiment building in Yerevan and held hostages, but later surrendered in July 2016. Three police officers, however, were killed during the two-week standoff.

Criminal charges have been brought against 32 people in connection with this incident and related developments.