Jailed Founding Parliament member Jirayr Sefilian says that he will only meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsayn to resolve the armed standoff at a Yerevan police building after having met with members of the Sasna Dzrer group that seized it on July 17.

Sefilian, in a statement released by the Founding Parliament, says that if Sargsyan refuses to meet with him under these conditions, the consequences will be “serious for our people.”

“Today, as a nation, we are sailing on a boat that Serzh Sargsyan wants to sink. Proof of this are the ruthless measures unleashed against the people. Despite it all, I remain open to cooperation to avert further bloodshed,” Sefilyan writes.

Sefilyan concludes by stating that the responsibility for what’s taking place in Armenia today fully rests with Serzh Sargsyan.

One of the demands of Sasna Dzrer is the release of Jirayr Sefilian, whom they describe as a “political prisoner”.