Turkish treasure hunters have targeted the Surp Mariam Astvatsatsin Armenian church in the village of Kovanli of Bitlis province, Ermenihaber.am reports citing the head of the Armenian minority union, Aziz Dagci.

According to him, holes with up to 3m depth have been found near the church and the adjacent cemetery. Similar barbarisms were previously perpetrated in certain areas of Mush and Sassoun.

According to Dagci, the treasure hunters sought to find gold and historical valuables from the church and the cemetery, which belong to the Armenian community of Turkey.