The Deadly 1999 Attack On Armenia's Parliament
![A screen grab from Armenian television shows the gunmen in the parliament chamber. - On October 27, 1999, five gunmen entered Armenia's parliament and opened fire, killing eight prominent politicians.](https://gdb.rferl.org/87ac6f4a-3e6f-4168-8985-4f9fbb58ad71_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A screen grab from Armenian television shows the gunmen in the parliament chamber. - On October 27, 1999, five gunmen entered Armenia's parliament and opened fire, killing eight prominent politicians.
![An undated TV image of Nairi Hunanian - The group's ringleader was Nairi Hunanian, a former journalist. He claimed to be carrying out a coup d'etat because he believed the government was leading Armenia into political and economic ruin. Hunanian's brother and uncle were among the attackers.](https://gdb.rferl.org/805386f3-8e5e-4b2e-a8d3-ff16c3e572a9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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An undated TV image of Nairi Hunanian - The group's ringleader was Nairi Hunanian, a former journalist. He claimed to be carrying out a coup d'etat because he believed the government was leading Armenia into political and economic ruin. Hunanian's brother and uncle were among the attackers.
![A TV grab shows a group of hostages leaving the parliament building after their release. - The attackers seized about 40 hostages but released them and surrendered to the authorities on October 28 after they received promises of a fair trial.](https://gdb.rferl.org/876b38a5-9564-4318-800f-e807d811c535_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A TV grab shows a group of hostages leaving the parliament building after their release. - The attackers seized about 40 hostages but released them and surrendered to the authorities on October 28 after they received promises of a fair trial.
![An armored vehicle was positioned outside the parliament as the attackers surrendered to the authorities on October 28. - The attackers were sentenced to life in prison after a lengthy trial.](https://gdb.rferl.org/4e581f04-ec3a-46c9-a585-351ed0caaec0_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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An armored vehicle was positioned outside the parliament as the attackers surrendered to the authorities on October 28. - The attackers were sentenced to life in prison after a lengthy trial.
![Servicemen carry the body of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian in a state funeral on October 31.](https://gdb.rferl.org/c71fbb95-c587-4b23-83e8-1536f27b78a9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Servicemen carry the body of Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian in a state funeral on October 31.
![Speaker of parliament Karen Demirchian was also among the victims.](https://gdb.rferl.org/d3dc2cac-50a3-49f1-bb66-0d478a3ad4a2_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Speaker of parliament Karen Demirchian was also among the victims.