A leading figure in the Armenian community in Syria, head of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Aleppo county department, writer, teacher Hagob Mikayelian, 70, has been kidnapped by Islamic extremist organization al-Nusra, Istanbul-based Armenian Agos daily reports.
On the way from Aleppo to Beirut the bus he was on was stopped at the barricade created by the rebels of Jabhat al-Nusra group. Mikayelian was forced to get out while the other passengers were allowed to continue their way.
According to the family information, Mikayelian is alive and called yesterday his family to inform about his condition.
He said the armed group has conducted a ‘religious trial’ and accused him of ‘backing the regime’, ‘participating in the march of the regime associates’ and sentenced him to 3-month imprisonment. Hagob Mikayelian has serious health problems.
