Armenia’s National Security Service confirmed that all four hostages, two police offices and two high-ranking officers, Vartan Yeghiazaryan and and Valeri Osipyan have been freed, according to Azatutyun.am.
Vitaly Balasanian, a former military commander from Nagorno-Karabakh, who was negotiating with the “Daredevils of Sasoun, said it was also agreed that shortly before Osipian’s and Yeghiazarian’s release Armenian security forces will ensure the presence of journalists at a “neutral zone” around the seized police compound. The journalists will work there “around-the-clock,” he added without elaborating.
A spokesman for the NS) said afterward that the two lower-ranking hostages were freed by noon. “The negotiation process is continuing,” Samson Galtsian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “I can’t give any other information at this point in the interests of the negotiation process.”
Another source familiar with those negotiations that the agreement on the hostages’ release was reached at a secret meeting between the two leaders of the gunmen and the NSS director, Georgi Kutoyan. The meeting was mediated by Balasanian
Balasanian did not specify whether the authorities are ready to meet the hostage-takers’ key demands: the release from prison of the jailed leader of their Founding Parliament opposition group, Zhirayr Sefilian, and President Serzh Sarkisian’s resignation.
Sarkisian on Friday urged the armed oppositionists to lay down their arms and give up themselves, saying that they cannot effect any political change in Armenia through violence.
Why diaspora is not influencing Sarksyan? Ratification of joint Armenian-Russian Air defense system will prevent Armenia from being able to respond to Azery aviation strikes. This will help Azeris to will the war. Russia is doing everything to weaken Atmenia. Can’t you see? Diaspora need to support rebels if they want Armenian to even exist as suveren state. Wake up Armenians. Sarksyan is an agent of Kremlin not an Armenian president.
These police actions seem to be BRUTAL. However, comparing to other countries they are not. In any other country some people would be killed so far. Police actions in Armenia are not brutal. They are necessary.
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The Sassoon have freed all hostages. Now it is Sargsyan’s turn to do something to defuse the situation.
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Armenian Government should make drastic changes. These changes will happen but will take time. May be Sargsyan and other reach people like him could chip in and help.
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This Sassoon movement should be remembered in history and be used to fix problems. Government should find a way to end this situation peacefully.