Beaten Child and His Relatives Have Not Yet Been Questioned

The newspaper "Zhavoronq" reports that the video shared online on November 27, in which several teenagers brutally beat and humiliate a helpless young man, has stirred emotions in the public, which has now become a clear example of impunity.

According to information received by the newspaper from the Investigative Committee of Armenia, the child and his father or grandfather have not yet been called for questioning, nor have the victims been heard.

Villagers have reported that the beaten teenager is mainly under the care of his grandfather.

Furthermore, the newspaper learned from the Investigative Committee of Armenia that in the criminal proceedings initiated regarding the incident, public criminal persecution has been initiated against five individuals; various measures of detention have been chosen for some, including house arrest for one and administrative supervision for another. This means that, in fact, there has been no real punishment to date.

Details emerged from this scandalous case that some of the parents of the assailants hold responsible positions in the educational and law enforcement systems:

• Manushak Arakelyan — Director of the village kindergarten (mother of participant H.A.),
• Amalya Poghosyan — Deputy Principal of the Zorakani School (mother of participant H.G.),
• Ruben Gasparyan — Deputy Chief of the Artik Prison (father of H.G.).

These positions not only carry administrative weight but are also directly linked to the formation of the moral-psychological environment and legal consciousness of children and adolescents. Herein lies a serious breach of public trust.

Yesterday, "Zhavoronq" contacted Minister of Justice Surbhi Galuyan to clarify why Ruben Gasparyan, Deputy Chief of the Artik Prison, whose son appears in the video beating a younger peer while threatening, "Why did you sell us out?", has not yet been dismissed from his position. Galuyan responded: "The deputy prison chief will not be dismissed for his son's actions." This stance is not only unacceptable in light of public sensitivity but also deepens the belief that an institution of impunity still operates in Armenia, where the dignity of the office is considered more important than public safety and moral rights to be protected.

The three parents of the students involved in the violence represent systems that are supposed to ensure the protection of children, legal thinking, and value-oriented education.