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Mob of More Than 30 People Brutally Attacks 9 LGBTQ Activists in Armenia

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Nine LGBTQ activists were brutally beaten by a mob in the rural Armenian village of Shurnukh. The mob was more than 30 people, over 10 percent of the village’s population, according to the most recent census reports.

The attack was reported by the LGBTQ rights group Pink Armenia: “Today, on the 3rd of August, around 20:00, in Shurnukh village, Syunik region, more than 30 people attacked 9 LGBT activists and beat them. As a result, 2 of them were hospitalized with different corporal injuries. Others 7, who had minor corporal injuries, are currently in the police station. The police arrived to the place of crime around 21:30, more than an hour after the activists have called them. Representatives of PINK Armenia went to Goris. The Ombudsman representatives also went there. We will provide updates if there are any news. We are calling upon the police officers of Goris Police firstly to ensure the safety and security of the activists, as well as undertake the appropriate measures to find and prosecute the perpetrators.”

Radio Free Europe adds: “The website Epress.am spoke with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activist Elvira Meliksetian, who was among the victims. She said the group arrived in the village on August 2 to visit a local resident. Several hours before the attack, two men arrived at the house where they were staying and shouted homophobic slurs and threats. The activists reported the threats to the police, but officers were unable to locate the two men. Later that evening, a large crowd of locals — including men, women, and children — returned to the house. When the visitors gathered their baggage and tried to leave, the locals reportedly attacked them.”

Photos of one of the alleged victims were posted to social media.

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