31-Year-Old Man Marries 20-Year-Old Woman, Forces Her into Prostitution

The preliminary investigation into a criminal case regarding a 31-year-old man's trafficking of his wife, promoting prostitution, physical assault, and providing false information to civil registration authorities has concluded at the Investigative Committee of Armenia's Main Investigative Department for Particularly Important Cases.

According to the Investigative Committee, as a result of investigative and procedural actions carried out during the pre-trial proceedings, it was established that the 31-year-old man entered into a de facto marital relationship with a 20-year-old resident of Yerevan in 2020 with the preliminary intent of subjecting her to sexual exploitation. He subsequently involved her in prostitution.

After some time, the woman refused to engage in prostitution; however, the man used violence against her to force her to continue, personally managing all the earnings.

Additionally, the 31-year-old man, not being the biological father of the couple's child born in 2018, provided false information to the relevant territorial division of the State Committee of the Republic of Armenia, claiming to be the child's father, and obtained a state certificate of paternity.

The investigation also revealed that on April 13, 2021, the man had an argument with the mother of his 20-year-old wife over domestic issues, during which he assaulted her, causing bodily harm.

Simultaneously, it was established that in June 2021, the aforementioned man helped several individuals engage in prostitution in Yerevan, demanding and receiving money from them on a daily basis.

Based on sufficient evidence obtained, charges have been brought against the 31-year-old man under Article 132, part 1; Article 169.1, Article 118, and Article 262, part 2, points 1 and 5 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, and he has been taken into custody as a preventive measure.

The investigation has concluded, and the criminal case has been sent to the prosecuting attorney for the preparation of an indictment and submission to the court.

Notice: The suspect or accused in the alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia by a court ruling that has entered into legal force.