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2016 Yerevan hostage crisis
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On 17 July 2016, a group of armed men calling themselves the Daredevils of Sasun (Armenian: Սասնա Ծռեր, romanized: Sasna Tsṙer; the name is taken from an epic poem) stormed a police station in Yerevan, Armenia and took nine hostages. They demanded the release of opposition leader Jirair Sefilian and the resignation of President Serzh Sargsyan. The group began a standoff with government forces, with growing crowds of protesters joining the calls for the resignation of the president. Two policemen were killed during the standoff and dozens were wounded; one policeman died of his wounds after the end of the crisis. Several of the attackers were wounded as well. In a 2017 survey the 38% of respondents supported Sasna Tsrer's actions, while 16% condemned.[2]
2016 Yerevan hostage crisis | |||||
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![]() Armed group leader Pavlik Manukyan (centre) and his men after seizing the police station in Yerevan. | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
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Sasna Tsrrer armed group Anti-government protesters | ||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
Units involved | |||||
Sasna Tsrer | |||||
Strength | |||||
Unknown |
31 gunmen 12,000-20,000 protesters | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
3 police officers killed, 26 police officers wounded |
5 gunmen wounded, 26 protestors arrested (some released later) |