Serzh Sargsyan has not changed his stance and still insists that a meeting with the jailed oppositionist Jirayr Sefilyan is possible only subject to surrender of the armed group "Sasna Tsrer" ("Daredevils of Sasoun") that have seized the Police regiment in Yerevan since July 17 demanding Sefilyan's release and resignation of the president. Such statement by
Jirayr Sefilyan has been disseminated by the Founding Parliament opposition initiative.
In his statement from jail, Sefilyan tells that during the last 3-4 days Serzh Sargsyan's "envoys" whom he "knows and respects" have visited him in custody. "They visited me after their meeting with Serzh Sargsyan. There were two meetings and a phone call. They informed me of Serzh Sargsyan's stance, I told them about my stance. I told them I should meet with the guys from 'Sasna Tsrer' group and then Serzh Sargsyan. The group cannot put down weapons before that," Sefilyan says in the statement adding regretfully that people are paying dear for Serzh Sarsyan's uncompromising stance.
"We are all on the same boat which Sargsyan is trying to wreck. However, despite this, despite repressions against the people and 'Sasna Tsrer,' I am committed to cooperation to prevent bloodshed. Taking into account the aforementioned, the responsibility for the situation in the country lies with Serzh Sargsyan," Sefilyan says in the statement.
Sefilyan was arrested for illegal arms traffic, while his supporters say the arrest was politically motivated and the charges brought against him were fabricated.