The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Sahak II Mashalian visited Prominent Istanbul Armenian figure Garo Kaprielian, who attacked while at a market in an apparent hate crime, the press service of the Patriarchate.

"Kaprielian has sustained injuries to his nose and hand. The police have launched an investigation into the incident. Community and local organizations condemn the incident," the statement said.

Kaprielian, a prominent figure in the Istanbul Armenian community, was attacked by employees of a market in Istanbul, the Agos Armenian newspaper reported on Friday, August 2.

During the attack, the assailants shouted racially-charged and discriminatory insults, according to Kaprielian, who recounted the incident to Agos.

Law enforcement said that the case would be referred to the prosecutor’s office for a pending investigation.