Syrian Armenians may be facing “St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre” in case the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is toppled, a former Armenian envoy to Lebanon said.

“Pro-rebel radical forces pose the most danger, making the Muslim Brothers fade in comparison,” Arman Navasardyan said.

The ex-ambassador was skeptical over the possibility for Syrian Armenians to organize a defense army, following the suit of Beirut Armenians in Lebanon’s civil war years.

“The only thing the government can do to help is mobilize forces to evacuate the Armenian community,” Navasardyan said, citing a large number of victims among the local Armenian population.

“Assad will be ousted in any case, the question is, whether the Alawites will manage to stay at power,” Navasardyan concluded.