“To Banish” Nightclubs From Yerevan

During the first quarter of 2006, five criminal cases on trafficking in persons and pimping were instituted.

During the first quarter of 2006 alone,  five criminal cases were instituted on charges for trafficking in persons and pimping. According to the materials from the cases, 57 persons, among them 53 Armenian citizens and 4 Ukrainian citizens, were subjected to sexual exploitation. On June 14, this information was conveyed to journalists by Karen Babakekhyan, the Police Colonel, Deputy Chief of the Main Department on Struggle against Organized Crime of the RA Police, Head of the Department on Struggle against Illegal Drug Circulation and Trafficking. 10 people among the above-mentioned individuals were subjected to sexual exploitation in Armenia, while 47 persons were subjected to sexual exploitation abroad (46 in the United Arab Emirates and 2 in Turkey).

According to K. Babakekhyan, the representatives of the RA law-enforcement bodies, with their colleagues from the Russian Federation, succeeded in preventing an attempt to move 4 Armenian women to the United Arab Emirates through Moscow.

It was mentioned that 13 RA citizens, currently residing in the United Arab Emirates, are being investigated on trafficking charges. K. Babakekhyan pointed out that the Armenian side intends to apply to the UAE law-enforcement bodies with the request to return the investigated individuals to Armenia.

K. Babakekhyan applied to the population to be vigilant and not to become victims of labor trafficking. The police have requested the Government to define the procedure of licensing of the employment agencies, which are multiplying day by day, as well as of the night entertainment enterprises. The police also proposed removing the night entertainment establishments from the territory of Yerevan, as has been done with casinos.

In response to a question of one of the reporters, K. Babakekhyan mentioned that the number of prostitutes who have come to Yerevan from the regions is 1000; 3-4 percent of the prostitutes are girls aged 15-17. According to Mr. Babakekhyan, it is impossible to specify the number of junior prostitutes, since their passport data is fabricated.

Noyan Tapan

Published in: Hayastani Hanrapetutuyun daily, #110 (3966), June 15, 2006 (Unofficial translation)