Ninotsminda Kindergarten Association Director Accuses Armenian MP of Sexual Harassment

The director of the Ninotsminda Kindergarten Association, Narine Ginosyan, and accountant Anjelika Putulyan have been charged with abuse of official authority and misappropriation of budgetary funds. Ginosyan claims that this is a retaliatory action from MP Henzel Mkoyan, as she refused to enter into an intimate relationship with him. She considers the accusations against her to be a 'dirty' political maneuver, according to Jnews.ge.

The investigation by Georgia's Ministry of Finance has indicated that Ginosyan and Putulyan are being prosecuted under Article 182 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which involves 'Embezzlement or Fraud.' They are charged with the alleged misappropriation or embezzlement of state funds amounting to up to 9,000 lari.

“When employees left their jobs, other workers were doing their tasks without hiring new staff and were receiving bonuses. Such cases occurred only over a span of 2-3 months. The investigation accuses Narine and her accountant of stealing those funds,” said attorney Mirian Nikolozden.

Ginosyan asserts that the case against her was initiated after MP Henzel Mkoyan expressed personal interest in her. “He wanted to establish a sexual relationship with me and said he would buy me a new car, renovate my apartment, take me to France, and similar things. He even communicated this over the phone. When I once entered his office regarding work, he initiated similar conversations again. When I firmly rejected him, he threatened to harm my kindergarten's affairs,” Ginosyan told SKnews.

Ginosyan's lawyer, Mirian Nikolozden, has submitted a complaint against Mkoyan to both the General Inspectorate and the Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Prosecutor's Office, but has yet to receive any response.

Attorney Ketevan Bebiashvili, representing the 'Young Lawyers' Association,' stated that Ginosyan's claim pertains to criminal law, and the prosecutor's office should respond. She noted that following this, a petition should be filed with the parliament for the suspension of Mkoyan's parliamentary powers.

“The parliamentary procedural committee should discuss the issue of Mkoyan's suspension of powers. If the prosecutor’s office does not respond, it suggests there is political will involved and nothing more,” Bebiashvili added.

“The director of the Ninotsminda Kindergarten Association, Narine Ginosyan, and her accountant, Anjelika Putulyan, are accused under Article 182 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which concerns illegal appropriation and embezzlement. Today, Ginosyan was released on a 5,000-lari bond, but for two days she has deliberately participated in the foul dealings orchestrated against me for months by the National Movement in Ninotsminda,” Mkoyan stated in an extraordinary declaration.

The court hearing to determine the preventive measure for Ginosyan and Putulyan took place on July 19 in Akhaltsikhe. The court decided to impose a 5,000-lari bail for Ginosyan and a 3,000-lari bail for Putulyan. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the beginning of September.