COMMUNITY DEMANDS TO PUNISH VANDALISM AGAINST ARMENIAN CHURCH IN DONI-ROSTOV

Panorama.am
16:04 02/08/06

Armenian community and reporters gathered near the Armenian consulate
in Doni Rostov to discuss the incident near Surb Khach church. Earlier
reports say that an attempt was made to set the Armenian-Russian
friendship museum on fire.

The people gathered near the consulate expressed their concern over
the incident. Alexander Kojov, head of Union of Monument Protection,
said it is a horrifying fact to try to destroy a monument dating
back to 18th century. Kojov said Surb Khach is the only 18th century
monument in Rosstov region.

Ararat Gomtsyan, chief consul, read out the statement addressed
to local governing agencies with a request to find and punish the
transgressors.

Suspicions say skinheads committed the act of vandalism at night, July
31. Law officials refrain from proposing verdicts yet. /Panorama.am/