At the opening session of the National Assembly, MPs condemned the act of violence that had occurred in Gyumri against a woman and a child that resulted in the death of the woman and hospitalization of the 12-year-old daughter in the intensive care unit.
“This woman is already the third such victim in 2020. Domestic violence is unacceptable. In merely 2 days, many will celebrate March 8, will buy balloons for their woman and toast to them, whereas it is much more important to understand…the roles of the prosecutor and the police must be revamped in order to avoid future such cases and eradicated violence from within our society once and for all,” representative of the ruling My Step faction, MP, Hamazasp Danielyan said in his speech.
Nazeli Baghdasaryan, another MP from the My Step faction, who also happens to be from Gyumri, noted, “The incident took place in Gyumri. A city where everyone knows one another, it happened in broad daylight, in a densely populated district and in the face of indifference.” The MP also added that whenever she speaks of violence in our society, some scold her in response, claiming violence is not in line with the nature of Armenians.
“Yes, violence exists and unfortunately, it has grown so closely within society that many just nonchalantly ignore this incident. Moreover, a barrage of insults was raining down the deceased woman online. If we continue to be indifferent, then these cases will increase,” the visibly emotional MP said while urging to assess the situation rationally. Vahe Enfiajyan, the Deputy Speak of the National Assembly also spoke of the unacceptability of violence, pointing out that individuals committing such acts must be punished by the full weight of the law.
“I absolutely agree with the concerns voiced by my colleagues. What happened is very tragic. Basically, the society is not yet able to overcome indifference and cruelty and this is because many things are cause by indifference. I also agree that we have to develop more severe legislative regulations. When we will come to a point where society will cleanse itself, that is when some regulations may be eased,” announced Mikayel Melkumyan, an MP from the Prosperous Armenia faction.
“This is no longer a red line. This needs to be stopped by all possible and impossible means. I am appalled by certain unicellular organisms who are discussing the behavior of the murdered woman and are trying to justify those abusive imbeciles with male identifications, people who think that a woman is a property awarded to them with its proper documentation. Violence cannot and must not have any excuses. This is an axiom. And whoever does not comprehend this, he is an abuser to me too,” Naira Zohrabyan, MP, had written on her Facebook page.
Note: several days ago, a 28-year-old man had brutally beaten up a woman, 43, in Gyumri, who had died of her wounds in her home hours later (about 8 hours after). The woman’s 12-year-old daughter, who was also severely beaten, has undergone surgery and is now in an unconscious state at the intensive care unit of the Surb Asvatsamayr Medical Center and hooked to a breathing machine. The girl has multiple injuries, including on her brain, chest, and abdomen. Doctors have said her situation is extremely critical.
The individual suspected of the cruel battery was reportedly the murdered woman’s partner and has now been arrested. A criminal probe has been launched citing points 1 and 14 of section 2 of article 112 of the Criminal Code – intentionally causing severe damage to the health of two or more individuals while negligently resulting in the death of the victim.
