Istanbul police detains 8 over murder of elderly Armenian coupleFebruary 10, 2016 - 15:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Eight people have been arrested on charges of involvement in the murder of 85-year-old Hagop Demirci, Ermenihaber.am reports citing Turkish media. According to some publications, the detainees were citizens of Armenia and Georgia. An elderly Armenian couple - Seta Demirci, 79, and her husband Hagop - in Istanbul were victims of a home invasion robbery, but the manner in which they were found indicates that they were targeted because they were Armenian. They were discovered in their apartment gagged and tied with a pig skin rope, an act usually “reserved for infidels,” as Armenians are often referred to in Turkey. Hagop Demirci was pronounced dead due to strangulation, while Seta Demirci was rushed to the hospital, Asbarez says, citing a report by the T24 news site, which covered the incident in Turkish. The site reported that the couple’s housekeeper, knocking on the door and not receiving a response, alerted their nephew, who lives nearby, and who opened the apartment door to find the two bound and gagged and their valuables stolen. The couple’s apartment is located near Gezi Park in Istanbul. Elderly Armenians have recently been a target of violence in Istanbul and the surrounding suburbs. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Erdogan’s approval rating falls below 40 percent: survey A total of 53.4 percent of respondents said they disapprove of the performance of Erdoğan. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. Armenia PM meets Iran’s Supreme Leader in Tehran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei |