Husband Kidnaps Wife in Artik: Human Rights Defender Sounds Alarm Over Threat to Woman’s Safety

Human rights defender Zara Hovhannisyan wrote on her Facebook page: “Right now, the life of one of our beneficiaries is in danger. The Armenian law enforcement system is still unable to protect women from violence. Today, one of the women residing in the Women’s Support Center was escorted to Artik, where investigative actions were planned. As a result, the woman was kidnapped by her husband and his relatives, and we do not even know if she is alive or not.

The woman was transferred to a shelter after being brutally beaten, and a criminal case has been initiated in connection with this incident, so the level of danger to her life and health is very high. How is it possible that women can be kidnapped in front of investigators and law enforcement officials? I simply do not understand it.

I would also like to reiterate that during the investigative actions, we have repeatedly voiced concerns about the dangers of confrontations in cases of domestic violence. As for the attitude of the law enforcement system towards victims of domestic violence, it is enough to recall the case of Takouhi Mansuryan, when a mother and daughter were killed with a machete after returning from the police station, even though there were police officers just a few meters away escorting them late at night. Additionally, there was the murder of Mariam Asatryan, where the entire system was aware of the violence against the woman, yet nothing was done to prevent the tragedy.”