Russian resident of Sochi’s GosSortUchastok rural settlement (Lazarevsky district) who was beaten in a rural settlement by Hieromonch Lazar, the senior priest of the Church of Holy Royal Martyrs, is currently in the police station along with his Armenian friend Sargis, President of Sochi’s “National Memory” organization Arthur Gevorgyan told Armenian News – NEWS.am.  

“They must come out and phone [us] to say what’s going on there. They have been in the police station since the morning. It’s unknown why they aren’t released,” Gevorgyan said.

According to him, some residents of the settlement are also dissatisfied with that hireomonch. “But the issue is different here: the religious leader, whose hands are kissed by church-goers, beats people with those very hands. Do you consider this normal? He’s not a bus driver but an ordained priest and must control himself in any situation. How can one approach a 20-year-old guy and beat him along with three other firends?” Gevorgyan said.

Sargis came to his friend’s help after which the hieromonch began to offend Armenians, with such expressions as “You were slaughtered by Turks,” etc., Gevorgyan said.

“Let’s see whether there is any justice: Will they handle the situation or keep silent,” he said.  

On September 16, Hieromonch Lazar, being in a state of intoxication, beat a Russian resident with his three convivial companions in the settlement of GosSortUchastok. When the resident’s Armenian friend came to help, the hieromonch broke out into abuse in address of Armenians, dishonoring the memory of the innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, whose 100th anniversary is marked this year. The incident occurred in the presence of a large number of witnesses and was video recorded by a cell phone.