Additional investigation to be initiated on Mariam Sukhudyan case

PanARMENIAN.Net - Additional investigation will be initiated on "S.O.S Teghut" movement activist Mariam Sukhudyan's case. Investigator Vigen Mesropyan, responsible for case-related investigative actions, was put in charge of additional investigation. As lawyer Nona Galstyan reported, this was the first time in the whole preliminary investigation period when law enforcement agencies granted defense-submitted petitions.





Criminal case was filed after the November 13, 2008 regular broadcast of Haylur on Public TV channel. There, a school-girl from Nubarashen boarding school No. 11 complained about being sexually harassed by a teacher, "Ecolur" NGO says in a press release. Sukhudyan herself finds she is being persecuted for participating in "SOS-Teghut" function aimed the protection of Teghut forest.



Initially, Sukhudyan was accused of libel (Section 1, Article 135 of RA Criminal Code). However, on August 15, Erebuni Police Office's Investigative Department replaced Article, accusing the defendant of providing false information accompanied by artificial creation of evidence. The article envisages graver punishment, i.e. imprisonment for up to 5 years. On October 21, the court overturned the previous decree, once again changing the accusation to libel, Ecolur press service reported.