LGBT Activists Reportedly Attacked In Southern Armenia

A group of several dozen people attacked nine gay-rights activists in Armenia's Syunik region, the Pink Armenia activist organization has reported.

The attack is said to have occurred on the evening of August 3 in the southern village of Shurnukh, and two of the victims were reportedly hospitalized.

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.

With reporting by Epress.am