Around 45 people have been injured as clashes breakout in the Armenian capital Yerevan between police and protesters outside a police station that was seized by armed men over the weekend.

According to Armenian Health Ministry, 25 of those injured on Wednesday are police officers and 18 of the total casualties are in a critical condition.

Police were forced to use stun grenades to disperse the stone-throwing crowds, who had built barricades around the station. Dozens of people have also been arrested for inciting violence.

The protesters are reported to be supporters of those who are holed up in the police station.

“Special law enforcement units of the Republic of Armenia continue to remain on high alert, but there is no need for their engagement as of yet,” read the National Security Service’s latest statement.

Similar protests have been held around the station over the last few days.

Over a dozen armed men affiliated with an opposition group attacked the police building in Yerevan at dawn on Sunday, killing one police officer and wounding a number of others. Five others are still held as hostages at the police station.

The hostage-takers are calling for the release of opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan. They also want the government to step down.

Sefilyan was arrested last month over alleged possession of firearms. The opposition leader had been accused in the past of plotting a violent overthrow of the government.
Similar protests have been held around the station over the last few days.

Over a dozen armed men affiliated with an opposition group attacked the police building in Yerevan at dawn on Sunday, killing one police officer and wounding a number of others. Five others are still held as hostages at the police station.

The hostage-takers are calling for the release of opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan. They also want the government to step down.

Sefilyan was arrested last month over alleged possession of firearms. The opposition leader had been accused in the past of plotting a violent overthrow of the government.

Background from Katehon:

These events in Armenia  are part of the strategy of hybrid war used by the US against Continentalist forces, and primarily against Russia. The goal is changing the government or policies of the Armenian authorities to ones less pliable for Russia. Currently, the Russian government is trying to find a formula of compromise between Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to ensure long-term peace, which naturally requires concessions from the Armenian side. The United States, in turn, is using its agents of influence in Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to derail the peace process and kindle war, which would naturally draw in Russia and Turkey.

The activities of armed radicals are a natural element of this hybrid war strategy. The recent attack has multiple objectives: exerting pressure on the Armenian leadership with an eye on preventing compromise on Karabakh; creating a pole of attraction for radical discontent elements which will then be used in a color revolution; using military operations by paramilitary formations to demonstrate the weakness of the government and its inability to control the situation; and strengthening overall opposition sentiment.

Source: katehon.az