Leaders of the Union of Churches of Evangelical Faith in Armenia have issued a public statement condemning the beating yesterday of Rev. Dr. Rafael Grigoryan, pastor of the Union’s church in Vanadzor, by a group of men linked to Arkady Peleshyan, a candidate running for town’s municipal council.

The press in Armenia have reported that Peleshyan, a member of the Armenian Rebirth party, and others in his entourage, forced their way into the church and severely beat Grigoryan who was later rushed to hospital.

Some press reports claim that Peleshyan was angered that Grigoryan did not allow him to distribute campaign flyers in the church prior to the local election in Vanadzor that took place on October 2.

Union leaders have called on police to find the culprits who fled the scene, calling the incident not only an assault on Grigoryan but on the evangelical community in Armenia.

According to the World Assemblies of God Fellowship website, the Union has 40 churches and groups and 10,000 followers in Armenia.

Photo: Arkady Peleshyan