Members of 'Kamq' Subjected Two Girls to Violence in Front of the National Assembly

Three members of the civic initiative 'Kamq' verbally abused and physically assaulted two passing girls in front of the National Assembly yesterday, injuring one of them.

The victim, Siranush Manucharyan, told Armenia’s Time that she and her friend were walking along Baghramyan Avenue when men collecting signatures against the 'Istanbul Convention' offered them to join their initiative. When the girls refused, the incident escalated.

“They asked, ‘Girls, will you sign?’ We said no. In response to our refusal, one of them shouted a terrible insult, to which I replied with an insult of my own. Then they started cursing at my father. I had just come from near my father, who is bedridden with cancer,” said Siranush Manucharyan.

The girl also noted that after the mutual insults, three men did not stop there; they approached her, hit her, and used violence. “One was a man over 60, pushing me and constantly cursing, another was a large man with brown hair constantly trying to hit me, and the third had dark skin and a patchy hairstyle—he is present in almost all the pictures of 'Kamq',” Siranush described.

After the incident, Siranush Manucharyan filed a report with the Arabkir Division of the Armenian Police. The police’s press office informed Armenia’s Time that the identities of the participants in the incident have been established, and it has been clarified who inflicted physical pain on the girl.

They also specified that “on the same day at 19:30, two of them appeared at the Arabkir Division of Police and gave explanations about the incident. Measures are being taken to locate the third participant.” A forensic examination has been appointed. Materials are being prepared regarding the incident in the Armenian Police.