The armed group that seized a Yerevan police patrol building last Sunday said it was releasing two of the four hostages it holds and would release ithe other two if it is allowed to open a press center on-site to get its message across.

For the past five days, the press hasn’t been allowed to contact members of the Sasna Dzrer group holed up inside the police building. Police have cordoned off the area, not allowing any media access.

Varuzhan Avetisyan (photo), a member of Sasna Dzrer, met with National Security Service head Georgy Kutoyan, and later announced the offer to the GALA news site.

The meeting was arranged by Vitali Balasanyan, a prominent Artsakh War vet.

Two of the four hostages, rank and file police officers, are being released as a sign of good will, Avetisyan said in a statement.  

The two remaining hostages, high ranking police officials, will be set free once the press center is established.