Possibilities to assist detained Armenians in Istanbul limited: MinistryFebruary 11, 2016 - 16:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Preliminary data suggest there are Armenian citizens among those arrested over the murder of an elderly couple in Istanbul, Armenia's Foreign Ministry said in a Facebook post. Due to a lack of diplomatic relations with Turkey, possibilities of providing consular assistance are limited. The Armenian Foreign Ministry currently follows the development of events, ready to offer more information, if necessary. Eight people were arrested on charges of involvement in the murder of 85-year-old Hagop Demirci. According to some publications, the detainees were citizens of Armenia and Georgia. An elderly Armenian couple - Seta Demirci, 79, and her husband Hagop - in Istanbul were victims of a home invasion robbery, but the manner in which they were found indicates that they were targeted because they were Armenian. Hagop Demirci was pronounced dead due to strangulation, while Seta Demirci was rushed to the hospital. The site reported that the couple’s housekeeper, knocking on the door and not receiving a response, alerted their nephew, who lives nearby, and who opened the apartment door to find the two bound and gagged and their valuables stolen. The couple’s apartment is located near Gezi Park in Istanbul. Elderly Armenians have recently been a target of violence in Istanbul and the surrounding suburbs. Related links: Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. Azerbaijan razes historic Armenian church to ground Azerbaijan has demolished the historic Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist (known as Kanach Zham). |