The beating of Armenian Aram Haykyan, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, was not an ordinary hooliganism, Heritage Information Center Management Director Armen Mkrtchyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Mkrtchyan also added: “Aram’s Russian friend, who was with him at the time, said the following: They returned home together on December 3. Then several youth appeared before them. The youth immediately took out medal bars, and one of them had a knife. They attacked the youth without additional words. Then Aram’s friend fled, telling Aram to do the same. Sometime thereafter, the friend called Aram’s phone. He did not answer and the friend returned to look for his friend [Aram]. He found Aram drenched in blood.”

Armen Mkrtchyan also informed that Aram had a gold chain in his hand, he had close to 3,000-4,000 rubles, and an expensive telephone, but they were not taken. And the eyewitnesses said they saw several youth nearby who shouted nationalist slogans.      

To note, the incident occurred on December 3, Aram was taken to hospital, he underwent two surgeries, and he only regained consciousness on December 16. 

An investigation is underway.