Armenian ombudsman calls for ruling out violence as hostage stand-off continues

Armenia’s human rights defender on Thursday reiterated his call for refraining from violence amid the continuing hostage stand-off in Yerevan.

 

Twenty individuals, including 16 police officers, were hospitalized after the tensions erupted into clashes in the central Yerevan leading to the seized the patrol police regiment.

 

“We have been visiting them since morning,” Arman Tatoyan told Tert.am at the medical center Erebuni.

 

“After receiving the first emergency report at night, we issued a statement to call for ruling out any violence.  I am here to meet with the police officers and citizens under treatment,” he added.

A total of 136 individuals were taken to police precincts in the wake of the clashes; 16 have been detained as part of the criminal proceeding launched by the Investigative Committee.