New Details Unveiled in Case of Assaulting Children by Director and Janitor at Aladdin Kids Club Private Kindergarten

New circumstances have emerged regarding the incidents of violence against young children at the Aladdin Kids Club private kindergarten operating in the Avan administrative district, as reported by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

On September 15, 2023, a report was received from a parent of one of the kindergarten's students, indicating that an examination of the internal video recordings of the kindergarten revealed that on August 2, the janitor assaulted a child born in January 2022 and directed inappropriate remarks towards the parent’s child, displaying rough behavior alongside the kindergarten director.

In connection with the case, three additional criminal proceedings have been initiated at the Avan and Nor Nork investigative division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia. These proceedings were consolidated into a single case for the sake of an objective and comprehensive investigation. During the pre-trial investigation, urgent investigative and procedural actions have been carried out, including questioning several witnesses, as well as the staff and the director of the kindergarten. The video footage presented to the investigating authority has also been studied.

The investigation has uncovered factual data indicating that the kindergarten director, aware of the helpless state of the children, together with the janitor, instead of properly caring for the children entrusted to them during the group sessions on August 2, September 12, and 14, 2023, brutally reprimanded the children, instilled fear in them, and subjected them to physical assault, causing them severe physical pain and psychological suffering.

Based on sufficient evidence, charges have been filed against the kindergarten director and janitor under points 3 and 5 of part 2 of Article 196 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. A motion has been submitted to the court requesting pre-trial detention as a measure of restraint for the accused, which has been partially granted. The court decided to place the director under house arrest while the janitor is subject to administrative supervision, a bail of 1 million dram, and the suspension from office as precautionary measures. The investigation is ongoing.