Russia's Foreign Ministry Expresses Condolences over Armenian Priest's Death in Syria

Maria Zakharova emphasized that terrorism in Syria can only be ended if the legitimate government in Damascus controls the entire territory of the country.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has offered condolences to the relatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church priest killed as a result of attacks by ISIS militants in Syria. This was announced by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, during a briefing on Thursday.

On November 11, terrorists killed Father Hovsep Petoyan, the head of the Armenian Catholic community in Qamishli, and his father, Abraham Petoyan. They were traveling in their vehicle to Deir ez-Zor to assess the condition of the Catholic church. Terrorists opened fire on their vehicle. Father Petoyan's father died on the spot, and moments later, Father Hovsep Petoyan succumbed to his injuries. The attack also injured Father Fathi Sano, a deacon of the Hasiche Church.

“We sincerely express our condolences to the families of those who died in Syria and to the Armenian community. The continued terrorist activities and violence against Christians in areas beyond the control of the Syrian government raise serious concerns,” Zakharova stated.

She characterized the terrorists' actions as a brutal crime, noting that it indicates that terrorist organizations continue to manifest lawlessness in those areas. The Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokesperson asserted that efforts should focus on combating them rather than merely engaging in dialogue.

Zakharova stressed that the only way to end terrorism in Syria is for the legitimate government in Damascus to control the entire territory of the country.

On November 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia condemned the terrorist actions that occurred in Syria's Deir ez-Zor province, which brutally resulted in the deaths of Father Hovsep Petoyan and his father, and left the church’s deacon injured. The announcement noted that recent military incursions in northeastern Syria and the subsequent escalation of terrorist activities have especially put the civilian population, including national and religious minorities, at risk. The ongoing persecution and killings based on identity must be decisively condemned by the international community.