A century-old historic Armenian church in Kars, present-day Turkey is on the brink of destruction, according to Turkish media reports.

The walls of the church, which is located in the Kaleici District of Kars, have been knocked down, while the interior has been excavated and destroyed by treasure hunters.

The building, which is now referred to as the Russian church, can only be saved from destruction by taking necessary precautions.

Many Armenian churches and historic heritage sites in Turkey have been neglected or destroyed over the decades, others have been converted into mosques, cattle sheds and warehouses.