Preliminary Investigation Completed in Case of Human Trafficking of a Couple

The preliminary investigation into the case of trafficking a couple has been completed by the Human Trafficking and Crimes Against Minors Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee's Main Investigation Department for Particularly Important Cases.

During the preliminary investigation, substantial evidence was gathered indicating that an animal farmer from one of the farms in the Kotayk region failed to pay the couple he employed for their work, and applied violence against them, which led one of the spouses to escape under threats.

The animal farmer continued to exploit one of the spouses, who was partially aware of the nature and significance of his actions due to a mental condition, without fully understanding or acknowledging that he was being trafficked. Specifically, besides the farm work, the farmer forced one of the spouses to perform additional tasks, which were accompanied by regular acts of violence or threats against him.

During approximately four months of work, one of the spouses was paid only 5000 drams for their labor. The preliminary investigation revealed that the farmer used blunt instruments to inflict violence on one of the spouses, causing bodily injuries. As a result, the spouse escaped.

The animal farmer is facing public criminal prosecution under the first part of Article 188 of the Criminal Code (human trafficking or exploitation) and the first point of the second part of Article 189 (trafficking or exploitation of a child or a person in a helpless state). The criminal case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor with an accusatory conclusion.