Video: If the Child Protection Bodies Were More Demanding, They Could Have Responded Sooner to the Incident, Says Governor About Khashtarak Case

The Khashtarak incident was one of the most tragic events in recent times, said Tavush Governor Hayk Chobanyan in a conversation with reporters.

“This concerns the institution of child protection and the effectiveness of this institution. Our preliminary conclusions are as follows: unfortunately, the existing legislation and mechanisms do not fully ensure the safety of our children and families; changes need to be made,” noted the governor.

He stated that the child care institutions are not as diligent in their actions. “If the child protection bodies were more demanding, they could have responded to the incident sooner,” Chobanyan said, adding that the governor's office has never received any alerts regarding violence incidents.

In the village of Khashtarak, a 58-year-old man brutally beat his 4 and 6-year-old grandchildren. The 6-year-old child died on August 25.

A 57-year-old resident of Khashtarak intentionally inflicted serious harm on his minor grandson born in 2014, delivering multiple blows to various parts of the child’s body with his hands, feet, and a stick, resulting in the child falling and hitting his head on the foot of a sofa, suffering multiple life-threatening injuries, and being taken to the hospital in an unconscious state.

On August 14 and 16, 2020, the grandfather repeatedly and intentionally delivered blows with his hands and feet to the various parts of his two minor grandchildren's bodies, causing them severe physical pain and emotional trauma.

On August 19, five more children from the same family were admitted to Yerevan's Muratsan Hospital for poisoning. The children's mother, 28-year-old Marianna H., was also taken into custody.

According to the data obtained during the investigation, 28-year-old Marianna H. also systematically and intentionally inflicted multiple blows to her five minor children and the bodies of her two minor nephews living with her using her hands, feet, a stick, and other objects, causing them severe physical pain and emotional suffering.

The man has been charged under Article 112 of the RA Penal Code (intentional infliction of serious bodily harm) and Article 119 (causing severe physical pain or severe psychological suffering) of the Criminal Code, and has been detained. His 28-year-old daughter has also been charged under Article 119, parts 1 and 3.

The children's mother died on August 8.