Epress.am News from Armenia
Seryozha Grigoryan, a close relative of Republican Party of Armenia MP Hrant Grigoryan, destroyed the old Yazidi cemetery of Myasnikyan village in Armavir marz (province), claims the Sinjar Yezidi National Union.
Sinjar representative Boris Tamoyan, in conversation with Epress.am, said 22 graves were destroyed to build a wine factory. According to local residents, Seryozha Grigoryan restored two of the graves, but he denies destroying the other 20 graves and has refused to restore them.
"With this step, they offend an entire people and play with the Republic of Armenia's international reputation. Years ago, we witnessed how as a result of Azerbaijan state policy, old Armenian cemeteries were being destroyed in Nakhchivan, which was sacred for us and a cultural value for the whole world," reads the group's statement.
Sinjar representatives draw Armenian authorities' attention on the crime and ask that "the person in question restore the damage caused to the Yezidi nation, as well as assume responsibility before the law, for the blasphemy."