Human Rights Defender Meets with Raphael Sukiasyan, Accused in 16-Year-Old Girl's Murder Case

The representatives of the Human Rights Defender conducted an unannounced visit on January 22 to the Armavir Penitentiary Institution, where they had a private conversation with Raphael Sukiasyan, the accused in the case of the 16-year-old girl's death.

This information was provided by the Public Relations Department of the Human Rights Defender, which mentioned that during the meeting, Sukiasyan raised issues related to the criminal proceedings, to which an official letter will be addressed to the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia. "The detainee also highlighted concerns regarding the conditions of his detention, which were discussed with the administration of the penitentiary institution and resolved on the spot," the statement said.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Human Rights Defender has initiated proceedings regarding the rights of both the murdered 16-year-old girl and the complaints from the accused’s father. In response to our inquiry, Nune Hovsepyan, head of the Public Relations Department, informed us that the first complaint directed to the Defender was raised by the accused’s father, Ara Sukiasyan, who addressed concerns about the presumption of his son's innocence and expressed worries regarding his rights in the penitentiary institution via phone. "The staff of the Human Rights Defender discussed the issue with the administration of the penitentiary institution. Measures have been taken regarding Raphael Sukiasyan's rights. The second complaint was filed by Ara Sukiasyan to the Defender yesterday, regarding threats made against his daughter based on revenge," Hovsepyan noted.

It should be recalled that the girl was murdered on January 5, around 11:00 PM. According to the preliminary conclusion of the forensic expert, the girl died of asphyxiation. The police reported that Raphael Sukiasyan, a contract serviceman of the Ministry of Defense, was arrested the following day on suspicion of murder, and the tablet of the deceased girl was found during a search of his premises. He made a confession. On January 8, he was charged under Article 104, part 2, point 8 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (murder committed for mercenary motives), and the preventive measure of detention was chosen against him.