President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan received the heads of the National Security Service, Police, Prosecutor's Office and the Investigation Committee.
According to the president's press-office, Serzh Sargsyan was informed of the details of the armed attack on the building of the Police Patrol Service Regiment in Yerevan and further developments as well as the measures taken.
The president was informed of the continuous active talks for release of the hostages kept at the seized building as well as for disarming and detention of the armed group, as well as other measures taken stemming from the situation.
President Sargsyan, in turn, said all the necessary measures must be taken for peaceful resolution of the situation. He made a point of the versatile and impartial investigation into all the violations of the law and inevitable punishment of all those guilty in the current situation. The president gave charges to the law-enforcers at the end of the meeting.
On July 17, an armed group calling itself "Daredevils of Sasoun" and comprising 26 loyalists of the jailed oppositionist Jirayr Sefilyan seized the building of the Patrol-Guard Service Regiment in Erebuni district of Yerevan. They demand releasing Sefilyan, who was arrested on June 20 on suspicion of acquisition and keeping of weapons and ammunition. The armed group is still holding four police officers as hostages. Deputy Head of the Patrol- Guard Service Regiment, Colonel Artur Vanoyan was killed and 4 police officers were wounded in clashes on July 19. The armed group demands resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan and release of their leader Jirair Sefilyan. The area is cordoned.
On June 20, 2016, Zhirayr Sefilyan was detained on suspicion of organizing a criminal group. According to the Special Investigative Service of Armenia, Sefilyan and his supporters were planning to seize buildings of state importance in early April. Two-month arrest has been chosen as a measure of restraint against Sefilyan, however, his supporters think the case is a frame-up and the arrest is political persecution for his political views, activities and statements about the territorial losses the Armenian side suffered during the April war.