Case of Sexual Violence Against 10-Year-Old Child Assigned to Human Trafficking Department

Under the instruction of the President of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Hayk Grigoryan, the preliminary investigation into the cases of physical violence of a sexual nature against a 9-year-old boy will continue at the Human Trafficking, Sexual Integrity of Minors, and Illegal Drug Trafficking Investigation Division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

As previously reported, on December 30, 2019, the mother of a boy born in 2010 alerted the Kanaker-Zeytun Division of the Police about incidents that occurred on December 26, 27, and 28, 2019. Three individuals reportedly committed sexual acts against her 9-year-old son in their residence and in the yard of the same building inside a Mercedes vehicle.

On January 14, 2020, a criminal case was initiated at the Kanaker-Zeytun Division of the Police under the second point of the third part of Article 139 of the RA Criminal Code, and it was transferred to the investigative division of the Investigative Committee on January 15, 2020.

During the preliminary investigation, the child was recognized as a victim, and his mother was designated as the legal representative of the victim. The child was interrogated in the presence of a legal representative, a lawyer, and a teacher, providing testimonies. He stated that his grandmother had witnessed the violence against him in their apartment, during which the same individuals had sexual relations with her.

Urgent investigative and other procedural actions have been taken, various individuals have been interrogated, and an on-site examination was conducted with the victim's participation, where he pointed out the bedroom of the apartment where the sexual violence took place, as well as the courtyard of the building where the Mercedes vehicle was parked, inside of which he was subjected to sexual abuse.

A forensic examination was commissioned to determine the severity of the injuries sustained by the victim, and its conclusions have already been received. Instructions have been issued to the Kanaker-Zeytun division of the police to locate and present the Mercedes vehicle to the investigation.

The child's grandmother has been interrogated as a witness, who denied the information provided by her grandson. The preliminary investigation continues.

It should also be noted that a criminal case concerning the sexual violence against the same child was also investigated in 2017, during which investigative actions were conducted for a considerable period. This case was closed in 2019.

Notice: The suspect or accused in the alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty according to the established procedure of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia by a legally binding court decision.