Yerevan rebels mistrust politicians involved in negotiations

Today, a press conference of the members of the "Constituent Parliament" took place on the captured building; it was allowed by law enforcers after the rebels released all the hostages.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 17, in Yerevan, armed members of the opposition "Constituent Parliament" seized the building of the regiment of the patrol-and-security service of the police regiment. During the seizure of the building, one policeman was killed, and other six persons were injured. Today, members of the "Constituent Parliament" released all the policemen-hostages.

The main achievement of the talks was the transfer of the situation onto the peaceful track, Vitaly Balasanyan, an MP of Nagorno-Karabakh, involved in the negotiations as a mediator, said after the press conference to reporters, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent among them. He expressed confidence that the parties will not resort to any bloodshed.

"Now they demand to release all political prisoners and all those detained and driven to police in recent days, as well as to change Zhirair Sefilyan's freedom restraint measure," said Balasanyan.

However, the members of the "Sasna Tsrer", interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, have denied Mr Balasanyan's version that the conflict had become definitely peaceful. Thus, one of the rebels said that he and his companions would lay down their arms only when Zhirayr Sefilyan will be next to them and give them such an instruction.

He added that Sefilyan had not known about his colleagues' plans to capture the building.

The interviewed members of the "Sasna Tsrer" also said that they did not abandon the demand of president's resignation, and, besides, continue to demand the formation of government of national trust.

Besides, Varuzhan Avetisyan, the deputy chairman of the "Constituent Parliament", has criticized the politicians, who "are trying to make their PR campaign in Khorenatsi Street." He named also Nikol Pashinyan, an independent MP, among them, who heads the non-parliamentary "Civil Agreement" Party and participates in actions of the opposition.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.