Calculations are being made focusing on cases of domestic violence. Head of the Organizational-Analytical and Criminological General Department of Special Tasks of the Investigative Committee, Artur Melikyan, spoke to journalists about this.
The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US Embassy in Yerevan and the Investigative Committee of Armenia organized a seminar during which the leaders of the IC presented the issues that they face and the studies that they conducted.
As far as what a focused calculation will provide, Melikyan said that it will not only provide accurate numbers, but it will also provide an accurate picture of different types of violence and territorial distribution. It will clearly state what kind of crime was committed in domestic violence cases, starting with murder until “bride kidnapping.” They kill one another, they take advantage of one another, they give the girl presents, kidnap her, and extort her… 57 points have been foreseen.
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Statistics will become entirely automatic when electronic justice is implemented. Criminal cases will entirely be conducted online. He said that they will receive information online instead of waiting 6 months and calling different departments to receive information. “The program will be in connection with the shelters. The system will inform investigators when they need to get the child. So, it is impossible for violations to occur. The times cannot be changed and no influence can be placed on the system. This will all take place within two years.”
Implementing the law on domestic violence will establish several issues because there are many gaps regarding shelters in particular. This is not only in reference to shelters for the victims. Statistics show that there are many cases regarding article 351.1, which is in reference to defense methods. These are the cases in which police remove abusers from their homes and utilize a defense method, such as not being allowed to return for 20 days. However, the state has a positive responsibility here in making sure that the person does not remain homeless. For example, the husband is the abuser, but he does not have any relatives, so he cannot stay with anyone. He is left outside in the cold and is warned that he cannot go within 100 meters of his home. If the condition is violated so that he does not die from the cold, he is caught and charged.
Hripsime Jebejyan
