“The aim of the program is to prevent trafficking by different means, starting from providing citizens with necessary information. Particularly, we are trying to find out if the employer firm for labor migrants really exists,” said Mr. Yeganyan during a press conference on Friday (20.06.08), adding that main stream of trafficking from Armenia is headed towards United Arab Emirates.

According to Mr. Yeganyan, they also plan to organize a search for labor migrants abroad about whom family members have received no news for a long time, as well as to assist Armenian citizens in obtaining official work permits.   

“We had quite an effective discussion, and the authorities of Emirates also expressed interest in cooperation. The draft agreement has been elaborated and forwarded to UAE,” Mr. Yeganyan said.

He also stated that a visit of a delegation to Russian Federation is planned for July to discuss of questions of labor trafficking. Apart from that, according to Mr. Yeganyan, significant work is being done for the establishment of cooperation in the field with Turkey. 

http://www.newsarmenia.ru/arm1/20080620/41900661.html

The first meeting of the Anti-trafficking Council took place in the office of Armen Gevorgyan, Vice Prime Minister of RA and Minister of Territorial Administration. According to the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, presented first were activities of different departments aimed at combating trafficking, implemented during 2008. 

Further, the part of US State Dept. report on trafficking which concerned Armenia was discussed. The Council suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs analyze the existing legislation on prevention and combating trafficking in order to fill the gaps and better organize relevant activities. This shall become one of the points on the agenda for the next meeting of the Council, which is to take place in September.

The Council approved mechanisms of national tracking of victims of trafficking, presented by Dzjunik Aghajanyan, head of the working group. In order to make it a working paper and not just a good intention, Vice Prime Minister gave a commission the job to prepare legal framework for the latter and present it for the approval of the Government in one month's time.     

    
After that, participants discussed the financial provisions necessary for each department to implement activities envisaged by the implementation schedule of the Anti-trafficking National Action Plan for 2009.

The agreement was reached to provide funding for activities of 2008 from the budgetary means of each Ministry. Departments received an assignment to clarify once again the amount of funds necessary for implementation of their part of the activities. 

“International organizations have serious expectations related to the work of the Anti-trafficking Council. They give particular importance to the participation of state agencies and allocation of state funds. During next 10 days, within the framework of meetings with donor organizations, further joint projects shall be discussed,”- said Armen Gevorgyan, Vice Prime Minister of RA and Minister of Territorial Administration.

“Hayastani Hanrapetutjyn” newspaper, www.hhpress.am., unofficial translation from Armenian

27-06-2008

Women and Girls from Armenia mostly become victims of trafficking and are subjected to sexual exploitation in UAE and Turkey. This was stated in US State Department annual report “Trafficking in Human Beings - 2008” (http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2008/).

The report says that Armenian citizens of both sexes also become victims of labor trafficking in Turkey and Russia. Potential victims leave for UAE from Yerevan or Moscow. Turkey is reached by bus via Georgia.

According to information provided by the Prosecutor’s office in 2007, 29 cases of trafficking were registered in Armenia: 17 in regions (7 cases in Lori, 5 – in Shirak, 2 – in Kotayk, 2- in Armavir and 1 – in Ararat) and 12 in Yerevan. As a result, the investigating agencies had 35 cases, 33 of which – in Investigation Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office and 2 in Regional (Lori and Shirak districts) Police Investigation Departments. In 18 of 33 accused criminal cases sent to courts, arrest was chosen as a preventive punishment. According to cases investigated by the Prosecutor’s office, 143 persons were subjected to sexual exploitation, 77 of them in Armenia, 66 – abroad, particularly in Turkey and UAE. Territories of Russian Federation and Georgia are mostly used for their transportation abroad. In this way 16 women were transferred to UAE through Moscow and 29 – through Batumi to Turkey.

Marietta Malumyan

“Novoe Vremya”, N 1620, 12.06.2008,

unofficial translation from Russian         

35 Cases of Trafficking in 2007

“In 2007, 35 criminal cases were filed in Armenia on trafficking,” – stated the Minister of Labor and Social Issues, Aghvan Vardanyan. Speaking at the meeting of the Commission of External Affairs of the National Parliament of RA, the Minister noted that 3 or 4 years ago very few such criminal cases were filed annually.

"Novoye Vremya"

15.03.2008

Unofficial translation from Russian

The Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (CETS # 197) enters into force on 1 February 2008. The Convention aims to prevent trafficking, protect the human rights of victims and prosecute traffickers. It applies to all victims of trafficking: women, men and children alike; to all forms of exploitation: sexual exploitation, forced labor, servitude, removal of organs etc; and it covers all forms of trafficking: national and transnational, related or not related to organized crime.

The treaty enters into force on 1 February 2008 with regard to the first ten countries which ratified the Convention: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia. It will enter into force with regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina, France and Norway on 1 May 2008.

The Convention, which was opened for signature in Warsaw in May 2005 at the 3rd Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, has been signed, but not yet ratified, by 24 other member states: Andorra, Armenia, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

Ten member states – Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey - have not yet signed it. Non-member states and the European Community can also become Party to the Convention.

This main features of the new Convention, the first European treaty in this field, include:

• Awareness-raising for persons vulnerable to trafficking and actions aimed at discouraging "consumers" to prevent trafficking in human beings.

• Victims of trafficking must be recognized as such in order to avoid police and public authorities treating them as illegal migrants or criminals.

• Victims of trafficking will be granted physical and psychological assistance and support for their reintegration into society. Medical treatment, counseling and information as well as appropriate accommodation are all among the measures provided. Victims are also entitled to receive compensation.

• Victims are entitled to a minimum of 30 days to recover and escape from the influence of the traffickers and to take a decision regarding their possible cooperation with the authorities. A renewable residence permit may be granted if their personal situation so requires or if they need to stay in order to cooperate in a criminal investigation.

• Trafficking will be considered as a criminal offence: traffickers and their accomplices will therefore be prosecuted.

• The private life and the safety of victims of trafficking will be protected throughout the course of judicial proceedings.

The possibility exists to prosecute those who use the services of a victim if they are aware that the person is a victim of trafficking in human beings.

The Convention provides the possibility of not imposing penalties on victims for their involvement in unlawful activities, if they were compelled to do so by their situation.

The Convention provides for the establishment of an independent monitoring body capable of controlling its obligations. To this end, within one year of the entry into force, the Council of Europe will set up the Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), consisting of ten to fifteen experts.

Trafficking in human beings is a worldwide phenomenon often linked to organized crime. According to the International Labour Organisation, up to 2.45 million people throughout the world are victims of human trafficking every year. The illicit profits of this trade amount to 33 billion dollars annually, making it the third most profitable criminal activity after illegal drugs and arms trafficking.

http://www.coe.int/t/dc/press/noteRedac2008/20080104_traite_en.asp

 2008-01-04

On Tuesday, the UN Office in Yerevan informed “Novosti-Armenia” that the presentation of the Regional Project to Combat Trafficking will take place in Yerevan on 22 November, 2008.

Within the framework of cooperation on the Regional Project, decreasing trafficking in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan will be discussed as part of the issue of strengthening the national project in these three Transcaucasian countries.  Issues in combating trafficking will also be discussed.

 Dzunik Aghajanyan, Representative of the Inter-Departmental Commission on Trafficking, Araik Petrosyan, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of RA, Roger Plant, Representative of the Extra Actions to Combat Forced Labor Project, Consuelo Vidal, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia, and Sergei Kapinos, Chief of OSCE Yerevan office will participate in the presentation.

The presentation is organized by EU, OSCE Yerevan office, and the International Center of Migration Policy Development.

GINSC

1,875,000 Euros to Combat Trafficking

Every year about 12.5 million trafficking cases are registered all over the world. According to statistics of the International Labor Organization, every year about 53,000 children under 17 years old are killed worldwide. About 5,700,000 children are doing forced labor and 1,200,000 children become victims of trafficking. The yearly income of this criminal activity is more than 32 million dollars. In the field of the organized crime, trafficking is the second major area, after illegal drug circulation, in which mostly young people are involved. 

The problem is currently quite real in the Republic of Armenia. Countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are export countries in labor migration and trafficking. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a high outflow of labor migrants took place from the South Caucasian countries with the purpose of finding legal as well as illegal employment. A huge number of migrants are employed abroad illegally. Countries such as Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Italy, Lebanon and Czech Republic are, for the most part, receiving countries for the migrants of the above-mentioned region.

Remittances from migrants working abroad are a mainstay as income for family members. Due to the high level of unemployment, as well as the lack of vacancies for respectable employment, employees are interested in the high salaries of receiving countries.  

The lack of awareness about the employment conditions in foreign countries, as well as limited possibilities for legal migration, lead to the vulnerability of the migrants. In addition to the above-mentioned circumstances, the smugglers promise well-paid employment abroad, which is almost never true and even far from reality. From this exploitation of illegal migrants the unfair employers receive a high income. Meanwhile, the illegal migrants are completely unaware of their rights, or they are afraid of exposing their exploiter. It is often hard to distinguish between labor trafficking and job conditions which do not comply with accepted standards.

The mechanisms of exploitation and keeping people in subordination are well known, such as hiding identification documents, threatening the illegal migrants with deportation or violence, or keeping them in detention.

To prevent trafficking, the International Labor Organization has initiated a program on combating trafficking in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Reforms in legislation are needed to resolve issues which will arise in the near future. This program aims to decrease the number of trafficking cases in these countries. In addition, the objective of the program is to raise awareness among the possible victims of trafficking and to include the trade unions and employers in preventive activities. All of these steps will strengthen the mechanisms of identification, assistance, protection and support of the victims of sexual and labor trafficking. The program is funded by the European Commission and will be implemented within 2 years. The budget for the program is 1 million 875 thousand Euro.

Due to the investigative activities of the Police of the RA, from January to September in 2007 27 cases of trafficking were found. Three criminal cases were opened this year for recruiting, exploitation, detention, or accepting of people in comparison with 8 cases in the previous year.

Four criminal cases were opened for different types of involvement in sexual exploitation and slavery in comparison with one case opened in the previous year. Two criminal cases were initiated on involving a person in sexual exploitation. For encouragement of prostitution, 18 cases were opened, in comparison with 21 cases of pimping out of the country. During this period, 4 victims of trafficking were returned to Armenia.              

                                                                                                                                                         Lilit Grigoryan

“Iravunk”

 23-26.11 N91 (1515)

Trafficking in Numbers and Facts

At the end of last year, the RA General Prosecutor’s Office analyzed the 2007 situation on trafficking and the investigation of cases connected with this crime. The work of the Division on Anti-trafficking and Illegal Migration in Human Beings of the Investigative Department of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office was summarized. The Division was created in June 2005 and ceased its existence on December 01, 2007. Within the framework of judicial reform, the task of combating that kind of crime is forwarded to RA Police. It is impossible to combat this calamity with the efforts of only one institution – a complex approach is necessary. In this connection, at the end of last year a 2007-2009 National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking was elaborated by several institutions (including the police) and presented to the RA Government.  

According to the RA General Prosecutor’s Office, 29 cases of trafficking were registered in 2007: 17 – in marzes (7 cases in Lori, 5 – in Shirak, 2 – in Armavir, 2 – in Kotayk and 1 in Ararat) and 12 in Yerevan. 2 criminal cases were “inherited” from 2006; another 4 were resumed due to detection of wanted persons. As a result, during the year investigating bodies processed 35 criminal cases. 33 of them were processed by the Investigative Department of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office, 2 – by investigating bodies of Lori and Shirak marzes. All legal proceedings were instituted under four articles of the Criminal Code of RA: 132 (trafficking), 132 prime (recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor, by means of the threat or use of force, of fraud, of using dependence, of blackmail, of threat of destruction or damage to property), 261 (involvement in prostitution) and 262 (maintaining dens of prostitution or pimping).

18 of the 33 accused were put under restraint by arrest, 2 were released on bail, and 13 were given a written warning not to leave their place of residence. 28 of the 33 were women, 6 of whom had criminal records. None of these criminal cases were dismissed and one was forwarded to the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation.

According to the cases processed by the prosecution, 143 persons (all women) were subjected to sexual exploitation: 77 of them - inside Armenia, 66 – abroad, particularly in UAE and Turkey.

Territories of Georgia or Russian Federation are usually used for transit. Thus, 16 women were transported to UAE via Moscow, and 29 – via Batumi to Turkey. 16 women who were subjected to sexual exploitation passed a rehabilitation course at assistance and recreation centers. Other victims didn’t express any desire to do so.

Information from the General Prosecutor’s Office about the social status of women involved in trafficking is especially interesting. Their research showed that the majority of pimps are former prostitutes. Victims of trafficking are usually widows or women whose husbands went off to Russia in search of a job and stayed there, leaving their families to the mercy of fate. These women find themselves in hard social conditions.  They become the only bread-winners, and, having no other means of subsistence, become prostitutes; some of them later even become "brigadiers" or "Mama Rosas".

Prostitutes transported abroad – victims of pleaded criminal cases- prefer to return home anonymously. They apply neither to law enforcement agencies nor courts or NGOs. They are afraid to be condemned by the public and misunderstood in their families. They are also afraid that undesirable details will come to light. As a matter of fact, victims are not obliged to testify and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

******

"GA" has addressed the problem of trafficking quite often. Let's remember a couple of typical examples, investigation of which was completed by the General Prosecutor's Office last year.

The people accused in this case are close relatives who organized a business connected with sending women for prostitution from Armenia to UAE. By the way, none of the women were deceived- their decisions were taken knowingly. Within the period of 2005-2006, 7 women were transported to Dubai. This case is remarkable, because one of the victims, who was delivered to the spot in the guise of a bride on a honeymoon, had a quarrel with her employer. After that she went to law enforcement and honestly "handed over" the entire group. Valentina and Nelli G. – mother and daughter – have also been arrested in this case and some others were declared wanted.

In second case, trafficking victim Alla was deceived. The charged offender in this case, Karine P in 2001 in Turkey got acquainted with a woman named Susanna, and with her help became engaged in prositution in that country. Soon after that she married a Turk, but divorced after a couple of years. In 2006, already in Armenia, Karine offered Alla the chance to accompany her to Turkey to help find a babysitting job. Yet, after arrival in Turkey, Alla was told that she could earn money only by prostitution. The girl had to obey. Together with other girls from CIS countries she was accommodated in a rented flat, but clients gave the money not to her, but to Susanna or Karine. After several months the girl got lucky: she was arrested for violation of visa regulations and deported from the country.

Public numbers and facts show that the problem of trafficking in our country is more then real. In this connection, it is important to mention the notable achievements of the Division on Anti-trafficking and Illegal Migration in Human Beings, which functioned for 1.5 years and as such was the pioneer in combating this kind of crime. The question is will the police be able to at least hold to this level of achievement? Especially since Prosecution research results show that the root of this evil are often linked to social need and the unprotectedness of certain sections of the population.

Written by Lusine Mikoyan

"Golos Armenii" N 9 (19659), 2008-02-08

“The aim of the memorandum, which has a preventive nature, is to create a network which will allow necessary research to be conducted and thus decrease opportunities for exploitation of labor migrants and trafficking” – this information was given to “Novosti-Armenia” agency in the press center of the UN Yerevan office.

The paper envisages consultative assistance during the investigation of cases of missing people who are victims of trafficking.

Compiled from:  http://www.newsarmenia.ru/arm1/20071106/41765254.html

2007-11-07

 This article was taken from www.ginsc.net Unofficial translation from Russian

“Within the period of January – September 2007, 27 cases that stipulate responsibility for trafficking in accordance with 4 articles of the Criminal Code were revealed”,- he said.

According to the Head of the Department, during the aforementioned period, three legal proceedings were instituted under article 132 of RA Criminal Code (Trafficking) against 8 cases, filed during a similar period of 2006, and 4 legal proceedings - under article 132.1 (Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor…) against 1 in 2006.

Mnatsakanyan reported that during the period of January – September 2007 two criminal cases were filed under the article 261 of RA Criminal Code (Involvement into prostitution) against 3 in 2006, and under Article 262 of the RA Criminal Code (Maintaining dens of prostitution or pimping) – 18 cases in 2007 against 21 in 2006.

 “10 of the 20 cases, filed under the latter articles are related to outgoing pimping”,- added Mnatsakanyan.

At the same time he mentioned that the department is actively cooperating with the Prosecutor General’s Office, Frontier troops, National Security Service (NSS), RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NGOs.

Trafficking victims, revealed by the MDSAOC, as the colonel reported, are sent to non-governmental organizations for further psychological rehabilitation.

“Apart from that we take active measures to detect people who are wanted within the framework of investigation of these crimes. The National Bureau of Interpol, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NSS, revealed 7 persons wanted by these accusations, and due to cooperation with MFA, 4 trafficking victims were returned to Armenia."  

Compiled from:  http://www.newsarmenia.ru/arm1/20071106/41765298.html

2007-11-07

A seminar on the problem of trafficking started yesterday in the UN Armenian representation. Illegal exploitation and deprivation of liberty (with the purpose of sexual exploitation) are serious problems for the region and 1.785 mln. € were allotted to the countries of the region to combat them. During the last 10 months, 27 cases of trafficking were officially registered in Armenia.

“Aravot” correspondent.

“Aravot” daily, 23/11/2007, 226 /3092/, unofficial translation.

On the agenda of the meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Prosecutors of CIS member states there were around ten issues, including cooperation between countries – members of this international structure in the sphere of combating trafficking. The situation in Armenia was described by the Prosecutor General of RA, Aghvan Hovsepyan. The situation, so to speak, isn’t optimistic.

            According to the annual report of the US State Department, the Armenian Government in its combat against trafficking is relying on NGOs rather than on its own strength. Yankees are scolding us for “failing to investigate vigorously ongoing allegations of corruption and to prosecute officials for complicity in trafficking.” Though certain pings of the Americans are hard to disagree with, nevertheless the accusation turned out to be unsubstantiated.

            Intensive conversations about trafficking started in Armenia 3-4 years ago. Apparently it happened because of special grants, which flooded Armenian NGOs. With one purpose – to protect rights of swindled citizens, particularly – female citizens. After the lapse of years one can state that the number of combatants against trafficking is threatening to exceed the number of victims they have revealed. The main hitch in the process of detection of “subjects” – is the unwillingness of victims themselves to blow their cover. The reason is fear of public reprimand and revenge of the magnates of this business. The business itself, to all appearances, is organized in a big way. And for the long run.

            Last year the income of illegal sexual trade in Turkey alone was 3.6 billion dollars, and it keeps growing. These statistics were made public in the report of the Migration Committee of this country. This business brings income of about 150$ for each client. Per day prostitutes get 15 “units” per capita. This is not difficult arithmetic – when converting it into 365 days per year, profits grow up to billions. By the way the women themselves don’t get a dime from it. The average age of the workers is 18-24. They have children, many are divorced or married to men inclined to violence. Each victim of violence has her own story. The only thing they have in common is poverty and overwhelming misery in their homeland. They are being brought to Turkey with promises of employment as waitresses or dancers. But once they are there, their passports are taken away; they get beaten, raped and forced into prostitution. The Bondswomen must have a slavish attitude. One of the pimps splashed boiling oil on the legs and genitals of a prostitute who refused to served a customer.

            As regarding international cooperation with law enforcement agencies of other countries, A. Hovsepyan mentioned that with CIS countries, multilateral and bilateral agreements are being realized. Relations have also been established with UAE. Only Turkey is still a problem, because Armenia has no diplomatic relationswith it. Officially Turkey and Emirates closed borders for women under the age of 31, particularly for those who are trying to enter the country not accompanied by husbands. In reality the matters stand otherwise and the track is thoroughly beaten by both the magnates of the business from there and Armenian servants. It is well known that our compatriots get to Turkey via Georgia, to UAE – via Russia. After all, it would seem that the Muslim world, which is so strict about morals, should be interested in extermination of the evil. However, in reality it is not so. Furthermore, the sexual business is being “roofed” on the level of state. Nobody here is going to voluntarily give up sex dollars that flow like a river.

            A department of combating trafficking in persons and illegal migration under the supervision of Marsel Matevosyan was created two years ago in the investigation sector of the Prosecutor General’s Office. According to the information, only in the first quarter of this year 8 precedents of trafficking and related crimes were registered in Armenia. The leaders are the Lori and Shirak regions. Out of 42 registered cases registered last year, 15 were from Shirak. The obstacle in detecting the wayward “sisters” is as follows – “the location of the offender is not determined”.

            Whereas professionals are working through the variants of “mama Rosas” and their victims, NGOs took concrete action. They published books of enlightening character and booklets. One of the anti-trafficking methods is drama. A theatrical performance called “Burning Candles,” that describes a bitter fate of Armenian woman who found herself in the paws of trafficking, is the idea of the chairman of Yerevan mission of International Organization of Migration (UN) – Hrachya Kojoyan. While the troupe is traveling around Armenia with its unusual performance, the relatives of missing sisters and daughters are raising noise.        

By Marietta Malumyan

Within the framework of the regional program “Organizations of Civil Society and Law Enforcement Professionals in South Caucasus Improve Cooperation to Counteract Trafficking,” with the support of CRS Europe/Middle East, “Hope and Help” NGO successfully implemented trainings for law enforcement professionals in March-September 2007.

            88 representatives of the police, prosecution, frontier troops from 5 regions of Armenia (in particular – Armavir, Shirak, Lori, Kotayk marzes and cities Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Hrazdan, Armavir) took part in trainings “Law Enforcement Professionals Raise Awareness about the Problem of Trafficking.”

            4 participants of the training took part in the final conference in Kobuleti and participated in elaboration of unified training modules for law enforcement professionals of three countries of South Caucasus together with colleagues from Georgia.

At the centre of Mr Hammarberg’s agenda there was a broad range of human rights issues, including the functioning of the judiciary, conditions of detention, prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, minorities’ rights, conscientious objectors, rights of refugees, social and economic rights. The visit also focused on trafficking in human beings and vulnerable groups. Commissioner Hammarberg visited various police stations, detention centres, shelters and psychiatric institutions in Yerevan and Gyumri.

During the visit, the Commissioner held meetings with the highest authorities of the State. He also met parliamentarians, the Presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Cassation Court, the Ombudsman, local authorities, the Head of the Armenian Church, as well as representatives of the civil society.

On the afternoon of Thursday 11 October, Mr Hammarberg held a press conference to present the first findings.

This visit falls within an ongoing series of the Commissioner’s country missions to all Council of Europe member States. An assessment report containing concrete recommendations will be officially presented towards the end of the year.

Press release of Council of Europe Press Division

During check-ups at night clubs the Italian police found out that hundreds of women newly arrived to Italy, including Armenians, were forcibly involved in prostitution.

            According to Associated Press, 18 people were arrested upon suspicion of trafficking.

During the press conference held on Saturday in Florence, representatives of the law enforcement body investigating the case, reported that agencies that had been dealing with preparation of documents assisted to hundreds of young women, mainly from Ukraine, Armenia and Kazakhstan, to enter Italy “to work in the sphere of performance” according to the exact wording. Their travel expenses and accommodation in Italy were paid and then they were forced into prostitution at night clubs or private apartments in Toscana or in other areas of  Northern and Central Italy.    

Suspects were arrested with charges of organization of illegal immigration in criminal ways, exploitation of women and instigating them to prostitution.

Prostitution is not illegal in Italy, but exploitation of women is a subject of criminal penalty. The Police reported that 8 night clubs were closed as a result of the check-ups.                                                                                                                                                     Armenpress 

In order to lure young girls to Dubai, I. Galstyan had to ask them for their hand in marriage. The poor girls found out that the groom wasn’t real only when they had been sold as sexual slaves.

The play was performed by the entire family. I. Galstyan made his acquaintance with young ladies (choosing simple ones), and proposed to them, having  introduced them to his sisters beforehand. Usually the girls were told that the engagement would take place in Dubai and the wedding – not elsewhere, but in Cyprus. As a rule, young girls, inspired by the perspective, didn’t think twice about agreeing to travel to the UAE with their future husband immediately.

However, to tell the truth, the right of the first and all following nights belonged not to the groom, but to some local “sheikh”, who usually paid big money for innocent girls. Just one of the “brides” – A. Torosyan – brought Galstyan a couple of thousands US$.

Contributed by Eduard Grigoryan, Women's Rights Center

A Turkish “tour”

At the end of March, the Division on Anti-trafficking and Illegal Migration of People at the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office finished the investigation of the criminal case of Karine P. from Gyumri. In 2001 in Turkey the latter met her compatriot RA citizen Susanna, with the assistance and under the patronage of whom she was engaged in prostitution with other girls. After that remarkable acquaintance Karine visited Turkey from time to time “to make money” and then came back home “on vacation.” In 2001 she met a Turk named Mustafa, and they allegedly got married. They visited Armenia many times. In 2005 their relationship finished.

In April of 2006, Karine offered her friend Alla, who was in very hard social conditions, to leave for Turkey together, where “good-hearted” Karine promised to find a nanny job with a monthly salary of $300. In the presence of Alla the “benefactress” called Susanna and the latter gave her consent to accept the woman. On 11 May Karine and Alla departed for Turkish town Nazili on bus. Upon arrival they explained to Alla that she can earn money only by means of prostitution. And she would not be able to return to Armenia without money, so she was forced to give in. Together with Karine they went to a rented flat, where some other girls from the CIS countries lived. But Alla’s clients paid Karine or Susanna and nobody gave money to her. Finally, Alla was lucky to be arrested by the Turkish police for violation of the passport regime in June of 2006. She was deported to her motherland.

According to the materials of the verdict and evidences, Karine was engaged in prostitution in Turkey in 2001, 2005 and 2006. In 2006, it was another friend Lousine’s turn to accompany Karine in the “tour.” On their way to the destination town they had spent three days at a hotel of the town of Trabzon. With the aim of getting money Karine and Lousine were engaged in prostitution, while Alla earned her money by working as a maid at the hotel. The same happened in Koushadase town. Finally, the “inviting” party in the person of Sousanna sent the women some money and they reached their destination point – the town of Nazili. At first Sousanna did not demand from Alla to do prostitution with others, but her Turk husband returned from prison and Alla was sent to the others. The same Sousanna supplied the girls with clients. Each of the girls had 3-4 clients a day, who would pay $10-20 for a visit. Several days later Arpine, Sousanna’s relative, joined the “team” and worked by the same conditions as the others.
Then Turkish policemen entered their rented flat. The girls whose documents were correct were set free, while Alla and Arpine were arrested. A policeman informed Sousanna that in order to avoid problems the two women should be deported. Sousanna decided not to object and bought the girls tickets; the next day they were deported from Turkey. Before the deportation Sousanna gave Alla $150; several days later Karine came to Armenia with $800.

When Alla knew about it, she started quarreling with Karine, saying that the latter had let her down. Her testimony is almost identical to Karine’s. 32-year-old Karine who had never been convicted before is charged with trafficking in persons, according to article 132 of the RA Criminal Code. The criminal case has been sent to the First Instance Court of Shirak marz (province).

If only several years ago one might think have thought that the problem of trafficking in Armenia is somewhat imaginary, and now it is obvious that the problem exists. Investigation materials on similar cases allow stating that the situation on illegal migration (and not only with the aim of prostitution, there are plenty of labor migration cases as well) becomes more and more urgent and difficult to control.

“Golos Armenii” has published several times the facts about Armenian women in the Turkish market of “intimate services.” There are many examples of this in the Division on Anti-Trafficking and Illegal Migration of People. Our women start learning Turkish (for example, Sousanna and Karine know that language), establish necessary connections and even willingly marry Turks. All this proves that combating trafficking should not be only the responsibility of law-enforcement agencies. The problem slowly exceeds the limits of the law-enforcement field, growing up into something bigger and, therefore, reflecting the crisis of the national self-consciousness. We should not forget that the partners of Armenian citizens in this specific business are representatives of the people, who 92 years ago committed the Genocide of Armenians. And the fact itself is a reason for very serious thinking.

It is obvious that arrests and repressions without improvement of the social situation of the population will not help to tackle the problem (especially in the provinces, where uneducated and socially insecure girls almost always find themselves in such situations). Trafficking is a potential threat to national security, and only a complex approach would help us to solve the problem.

Lana Mshetsyan

“Took the bait” without thinking long

20-year-old S.T. had been subjected to sexual exploitation in Dubai for more that 9 months. She was sent to the UAE by her compatriots – L.Kocharyan and A.Gasparyan.

A classic trafficking scenario: two pimps promised her a high-income waitress job at one of the best Dubai restaurants. S.T. “took the bait” without thinking long. Just at place Kocharyan demanded to pay for the trip, knowing well that she had no money. Deprived of her rights in the foreign country, the woman was forced to prostitution. She succeeded in getting back to the Motherland only nine months later. Here S.T., unlike many other victims, applied to the police. That was how her torturers appeared on the dock. The trial of the pimps will take place at the First Instance Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities.

Contributed by Eduard Grigoryan, Women's Rights Center

The Sex-Slave Punished the Pimp

S.S., a citizen of Armenia, has spent about 10 months in sexual slavery in the Turkish town of Nazeli.

The scenario of trafficking is well-known. Two pimps – N.Nikoyan, RA citizen, and K.Panosyan, temporarily residing in Turkey, promised S.S. a high-income job in Nazeli. But upon arrival K.Panosyan, using the insecure situation of S.S., forced her to sexual exploitation. Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, K.Panosyan was charged with trafficking. A part of the case, related to N.Nikoyan, has been separated for a special trial, and she is wanted now.

For Sexual Exploitation

According to the data of criminal cases now in the process of investigation, 75 female RA citizens were subjected to sexual or labor exploitation in the first quarter of 2007. This is what Head of the Division on Anti-Trafficking and illegal Miigration of People at the Investigation Department of RA Prosecutor General’s Office Marcel Matevosyan stated.

According to him, all the victims are adult women. 73 of them have been subjected to sexual exploitation, 2 – to labor exploitation in Turkey. 43 of the women have been subjected to exploitation in the RA, 32 – abroad, including 25 in the UAE and 7 in Turkey. Russian Federation and Georgia were transit countries for transportation of the victims.

According to M. Matevosyan, up to now the law enforcement bodies have registered only two cases where Armenia was a destination country and one case where it was a transit country.

Recruited and Transported to Trabzon

The Division on Anti-Trafficking and Illegal Migration of Human Beings of the Investigation Department of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office has found  two partners of S. Yeranosyan, engaged in pimping in the town of Trabzon, Turkey. S. Soghomonyan’s partners recruited girls for him from different marzes (provinces) of Armenia.

The investigation enabled finding out and proving that S. Zhamharyan, resident of the town of Vanadzor, in self-interest, agreed to S. Yeranosyan’s offer to engage other people in prostitution. S. Zhamharyan, who was occupied with pimping in Turkey, had a prior agreement with S. Yeranosyan and recruited G. D. in Vanadzor and transported her to Trapizon. S. Yeranosyan had been engaging G. D. in prostitution for more than 7 months. And I. Karapetyan, resident of Gyumri, in self-interest, being engaged in prostitution under Yeranosyan’s control, had got a preliminary agreement with S. Yeranosyan, according to which in October 2005 she recruited her sister, A. H., and transported her to Trabzon. S. Yeranosyan had been engaging A.H. in prostitution for about 3 months.

Based upon available evidence, S. Zhamharyan and I. Karapetyan were charged under Clause 1 Section 2 of Article 261 of the RA Criminal Code.
On September 6, 2006 the case was sent to the First Instance Court of Lori marz (province) for further examination.

Café as a Den of Prostitution

The Division on Anti-Trafficking and Illegal Migration of Human Beings of the Investigation Department of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office has finished the preliminary investigation of the criminal case No. 62207606.

The investigation allowed officials to find out that G. Ghoukasyan, being a de facto manager of the shop, belonging to “Azniv Davtyan” private enterprise, had come to a prior agreement with the sales-assistant G. Nazaryan and with the aim of  deriving some profit assisted H. H., A. A., G. Gh. and others to be engaged in prostitution from January till July 2006, periodically giving them a room in the café under his ownership.

Based upon available evidence G. Ghukasyan and G. Nazaryan were charged under Clause 1 Section 2 of Article 262 of the RA Criminal Code.
On August 29 2006 the criminal case was sent to the First Instance Court of Shengavit community for further examination.

A Pimp Exploited Prostitutes

Three days ago the policemen of the town of Gyumri detained Vardanoush H., born in 1957. She had left part of her dwelling at the disposal of Karine B., Armine M., Vaduhi S. and Noune A. Each of the above-mentioned prostitute girls paid Vardanoush 500 Armenian Drams.

Contributed by Eduard Grigoryan, Women's Rights Center

Famous Pimps Arrested in Dubai
If they are deported to Armenia, most probably they will be set free again

As we have already written, famous pimps Amalya Mnatsakanyan (Nano) and Marietta Mousayelyan transferred new groups of women to the United Arab Emirates in November 2006.

Amalya Mnatsakanyan was wanted by Interpol and on 10 March 2004, the UAE police arrested her and deported her from the country. According to the UAE laws, A.Mnatsakanyan cannot enter that country anymore. Her pupil was also registered in the computer of the UAE Migration service as an undesired person. So how did Amalya Mnatsakanyan manage to appear in Dubai in 2006 again? It is simple: her colleagues in the Emirates bribed the staff of the Migration Service and they deleted data on Amalya’s pupil from the database. In Yerevan she registered a false marriage and changed her surname, which is now Matoulyan. She left for Dubai via Moscow – under the following name and surname: Amalya Matoulyan.

Last year the two pimps continued sexually exploiting Armenian women in Dubai. Three women, who were under their control, managed to escape – Armine from Hoktemberyan, Arpine from Ejmiadzin and Dinoulik, a refugee, living in Yerevan. One of them was sold to Nano for $800 by her own mother, who knew where her daughter would be taken. One of the women sent us a letter for help with the assistance of one of our sources in Dubai. A. wrote in the letter: “We, captives, hostages and slaves of Nano and Marietta in Dubai, are appealing to law-enforcement, security agencies, Prosecutor’s Office and editors of all newspapers, organizations dealing with anti-trafficking and others, begging to free us from those two cruel butchers and get us out of this swamp, so that we, deceived women, could return back home.”

The woman also tells in her letter how she was deceitfully taken to Dubai and how those two women and the Arabs, who served them, tortured her.
In the beginning of January the sexually exploited women surrendered to the police, saying that their passports were with the pimps. On January 4 the Dubai police arrested Amalya Mnatsakanyan and Marietta Mousayelyan.
The UAE police will either sentence them to imprisonment or deport them from the country. As for Armenia, here, those pimps, who have been convicted several times, will naturally be set free.

Edik Baghdasaryan

Pimps Continue Their Activity After Serving Their Sentence

According to our sources in Dubai, the well-known pimps Amalia Mnatsakanyan and Marietta Mousayelyan have transported a new group of women to Dubai. These two pimps have been convicted several times in Armenia for similar activity during recent years. Both of them have been wanted by Interpol for many years. When convicting both of them, the court has always taken into consideration mitigating circumstances and sentenced them to short terms. Both of them were released before the end of their sentences.

43-year-old Amalia Mnatsakanyan is known by the nickname of “Nano.” For her “achievements” she is called “mother pimp” by the police. On 16 August 2006 Nano was given a suspended sentence for pimping. During the two years’ probation period and after its expiry she continued pimping. Amalia Mnatsakanyan has been wanted by police since September of 2002. In 2003 the two criminal cases were combined due to the fact that the recruited women were sexually exploited by Amalia Mnatsakanyan.

The investigation found that in 2002-2003 Nano also “forged and used official documents, instigated and assisted people in crossing the RA state border.”
Police of the United Arab Emirates have satisfied the request of our law-enforcement bodies, and on 10 March 2004 Amalia Mnatsakanyan was arrested and transported to Armenia.

The hearings on the above-mentioned case took place on 2 June - 25 August, 2004, at the First Instance Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities. M.Vardanyan, one of Nano’s victims, wrote in her testimony: “It is impossible to describe how I and others like me were tortured. They forced us to do any perverse things. And all this was headed by Nano, she was our “boss”. She did not feel pity for anyone; she even forced us to serve customers when we were ill to get money. It is necessary to annihilate such people as she is.” And during the testimony at the court she said: “They took my passport and forced me to do things you can’t imagine. I stayed in Dubai for 21 days, not getting a penny. Whatever I earned was to be given Nano. But I could not get used to all that. The police caught me and then I was deported. I came to Armenia in a terrible state, now I am a disabled of the third category.” 

During the investigation it became known that in the period of 2000-2003 A.Mnatsakanyan recruited and transported to the Emirates more than 40 women. According to the verdict, in that period she earned $221.000. Nano refused to give testimony at the court, but pleaded guilty.

Taking into consideration the fact that the crimes were committed in the period of 1998-2003, the court was guided by the previous Criminal Code when deciding the sentence. However, the previous Criminal Code did not contain any article on trafficking, and Nano was sentenced to two years of imprisonment under article 262 (pimping) of the RA Criminal Code. Nano stayed in prison for only two months. After her release she continued her activity.

According to our information, Nano was patronized by generals, that’s why she was released so soon and continued her activity without any fear.

Now about Marietta Mousayelyan. The court has always set light penalties for Marietta Mousayelyan, who was convicted three times. In May of 2005, she was released before the expiry of her sentence by the court’s decision. This time she personally recruited women. There were seven women in the first group; most of them were from provincial regions. In late November, Marietta Mousayelyan transported a group of women to Dubai via Moscow. She was accompanied by her friend Serozh. Nano took three women to Dubai via Moscow.

Our source of information met Nano in Dubai and asked: “How did you come here, aren’t you afraid?” She answered: “My security is guaranteed by everybody, why should I be afraid? It’s all up to money.” We managed to find out that Nano bought all Yerevan-Moscow-Dubai tickets at “Delta Armenia” agency and departed in the period of 18-25 November.

“Nano bought several girls from Ano, living at the hostel of Erebouni district. Marin’s daughter, Ano’s relative, was also among the girls. Sousan from Shengavit district sold a girl from Gyumri. Now Sousan is in the prison of Abovyan town,” - this is what an acquaintance of Marietta Mousayelyan told us during her visit to “Hetq’s” editorial office. Marietta also took a relative of the latter to Dubai. When we advised her to apply to the law-enforcement bodies, she said that she is afraid of long procedures.

Edik Baghdasaryan

Testimony of a prostitute

The investigation of the criminal case instituted against Gayane Melkonyan, Sousanna Nikoghosyan, Rouzan Baghdasaryan and Mayranoush Haroutyunyan, who have been charged with pimping, continued at the Shengavit First Instance Court, headed by Souren Kostanyan.

Naira Sahradyan, a Gyumri city resident who, according to the prosecution, is a victim of sexual exploitation, appeared in the court. She recognized only Gayane Melkonyan. Yesterday Naira claimed at the court that she was a student at the Mkhitar Heratsi Collage of Gyumri and ten days after the start of the courses she met her acquaintance Anoush Hartanyan. When Naira said that she was in a bad social condition, as her father divorced her mother 10 years ago and her education was paid for by her grandmother, Anoush took Naira to her friend Gayane Melkonyan, saying that the latter could help her to find job. At Gayane’s they met Meline Gevorgyan (nickname of “Sevan”), a woman named Vika and another one nicknamed “Chakhkal Gayane” (Blue-eyed Gayane, Translator’s note). Naira talked to Meline, who offered her a waitress’s job in Turkey. Last year on September 20 Gayane Melkonyan sent the victim to Yerevan from the bus station of Gyumri. In Aydnoushadas town of Turkey she, Meline and Nelly Minasyan (she has recently died in Gyumri) were met by Mouzhdat, a Kurd who was Meline’s husband. The first day they stayed at a hotel. The victim said that the next day Meline told her and Nelly that there was no waitress’s job and they would be engaged in prostitution. At that moment the victim had no money with her, it was the first time she was abroad and she did not speak Turkish at all. Meline said that everybody was doing it (prostitution). “This is not Armenia and prostitutes are not treated badly,”- said Naira Sahradyan in her testimony yesterday.  She stayed in Turkey for four months, and was engaged in prostitution for three months. Yesterday N.Sahradyan also said that she divided the earned money between her and Meline, as, according to the latter, she had already spent $460 on her. 1 hour with a client cost $50. When Gourgen Grigoryan, Gayane Melkonyan’s lawyer, asked whether it had been possible to refuse to do prostitution, the victim answered that Mouzhdat threatened that he would sell them to pimps of Antalia or Istanbul. According to the victim, the Kurd was “Meline’s rear.” The accused Gayane Melkonyan asked the victim why she did not complain of anything when they lived at the hotel in Turkey; the victim, however, could not find an answer to that. When contradictions were found between yesterday’s testimony given at the court and that given during the inquest, it was disclosed that that Gayane Melkonyan sold N.Sahradyan to Meline for $250. “I did not tell about that as I was embarrassed by other people’s presence,”- Gayane said yesterday at the court.

Naira said during the proceedings that she earned a big sum of money in two days, which enabled her to pay off her “debt.” “A human is not a tractor to work all time,” – the victim said, describing the hardships of her work in Turkey. All she claimed at the court was moral compensation, as she was cheated and told she would work as a waitress. Isajanyan, an 80-year-old lawyer of the defendants, asked if the victim was a virgin before leaving for Turkey. Although the question was rejected by the court, during the inquest Naira said that in 2004, before entering the collage, she had a boy-friend, with whom she had intimate relations.

Rouzan Minasyan

Government Agencies Help Convicted Trafficker Escape

In February 2006, Anush Zakharyants, who was serving time at the Abovyan criminal detention center after being convicted of trafficking, “escaped” with collective help from the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutor General's office. Border guards helped Zakharyants leave Armenia. It does not matter how much money she paid at the border in order to buy her escape. What matters is that it is possible to buy your way across our borders, even when your passport is expired.

Zakharyants' escape was accomplished in three steps:
The first step consisted of freeing her from the detention center. This was done by the Ministry of Justice. The second step involved obtaining her passport from the Prosecutor's Office. This was done jointly by the Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Justice.

The third step was crossing the Armenian border. This was done by the National Security Service. At each step, these official organs did all that was in their power to help Anush escape from Armenia.

It is difficult to say whether these different organs collaborated with each other, but there is no official body left in Armenia that is authorized to investigate this issue. How can the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor General's office or the National Security Service – under whom the border guards operate - file a case against themselves?

Statement
Anush Zakharyants, a citizen of Uzbekistan, was first convicted of human trafficking (article 132 of the Armenian Criminal Code) in Armenia and sentenced to a four-and-a-half year prison term on May 28, 2004. She had brought nine women from Uzbekistan to Armenia and had subjected them to sexual exploitation. Anush had confiscated their passports and forced them to make money for her through prostitution. All this was proven in court, Anush was convicted, and the victims were repatriated to Uzbekistan.

Step One
The convict was released from the detention center
Anush was serving her term at the Abovyan prison, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. In February of this year, Anush left the center and did not return. Ashot Martirosyan, the Head of the Criminal Supervision Department answered to question we had directed at Minister of Justice Davit Harutyunyan as follows.

“…In accordance with Article 80 of the Armenian Criminal Code, the head of the Abovyan criminal detention center had allowed convict A. Zakharyants a short leave of absence from 01.02.06 to 05.02.06 with the aim of social rehabilitation. However, the convict did not return within the given period to continue serving her sentence. The Abovyan criminal detention center informed the Prosecutor's office of the situation, where a criminal case was then filed against A. Zakharyants.”

As part of the first step, papers were prepared at the prison to allow Zakharyants a short leave of absence. Our source at the Criminal Supervision Department informed us that the order for her absence had been issued by former Head of Department Samvel Hovhannisyan (he was removed from his post four months ago, but the reason for his dismissal reportedly had nothing to do with organizing Anush Zakharyants' escape).

“On January 31, 2006, convict A. Zakharyants went to the head of the medical service at the detention center, Dr. H. Muradyan, regarding some health problems. The latter recommended a specialized diagnostic examination and this recommendation was attached to the convict's personal file.” - This was the reply we managed to elicit, with the help of Anahit Voskanyan, Press Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, from Arsen Afrikyan, head of the Abovyan Criminal Detention Center.

After that, Zakharyants received a five-day leave of absence from the prison. Zakharyants' passport was not among her personal belongings at the Abovyan Criminal Detention Center. By law, it should have been sent to the Justice Ministry facility after she was sentenced, but it was not among her personal belongings.

“The Court of First Instance for the Kentron and Nork-Marash municipalities of Yerevan informed us, replying to our written query, that the convict's passport was missing from her criminal file as well. Therefore, the convict did not have a passport at the time the leave of absence was granted,” stated Arsen Afrikyan .
Afrikyan also said that their search operations had yielded no results, and that they had gone to the Kotayk Marz Prosecutor on February 28, requesting an investigation into the case of A. Zakharyants. Zakharyants was supposed to return to the detention center on February 6. The administration at the Abovyan facility waited 22 days before informing the Kotayk Marz Prosecutor of Zakharyants' disappearance. In all likelihood, this was Samvel Hovhannisyan's initiative as well. He may have been waiting for Anush to reach Uzbekistan and inform him of her safe arrival.

Step Two
Samvel Hovhannisyan gave the convict her passport
Anush Zakharyants left the Abovyan Criminal Detention Center without her passport. In January 2004, her passport was in her criminal file at the Prosecutor's Office. The file was sent to court without the passport, which is against the law. The passport had been removed from the file and kept at the Prosecutor's Office. We tried to find out from the Prosecutor General if the passport was still at the office today, or whether it had been returned to Anush Zakharyants.

Sona Truzyan, Press Secretary for the Prosecutor General's office stated, “ On the basis of an official statement by the former head of the Ministry of Justice Criminal Supervision Department, an inspector returned Anush Zakharyants her passport and received a statement of receipt on January 12, 2006.”

The official statement, as clarified by the press secretary, had been a verbal command by which the former Head of the Criminal Supervision Department Samvel Hovhannisyan obtained the passport from inspector Aristakes Yeremyan. But the passport never entered the criminal detention center. It remained “in Hovhannisyan's pocket” and was handed to Zakharyants in early February, when she was outside the center during her leave of absence. It is not clear what remuneration Hovhannisyan received against the passport.

As soon as she received her passport, Anush Zakharyants left Armenia.

Step Three
Armenian border guards got Zakharyants across to Georgia, even though her passport had expired
Hetq wrote two letters to Gorik Hakobyan, head of the National Security Service, to try and find out whether Zakharyants had crossed the Armenia border and how, with which passport, she had done so. We received no reply.
Anush Zakharyants held a Republic of Uzbekistan passport which expired in 2005, which meant that she was not allowed to cross the Armenian border. But that did not keep her from bribing the Armenian border guards and getting across.

But the Georgian guards on the other side of the border noticed that her passport had expired and detained Zakharyants. She pleaded for political asylum with Border Department officials at the Georgian Internal Affairs Ministry. Her application was processed by the Ministry for Refugee Issues in Georgia. The border guards handed Anush over to officials at the Department for Constitutional Security within the Ministry for Internal Affairs.

Our source within the Georgian law enforcement agencies informed us that Anush Zakharyants made a deal with the Georgians and gave them information about Georgians dealing in human trafficking. In return, she was allowed to go to the Embassy of Uzbekistan and receive a certificate of repatriation. For some reason, officials from the Ministry for National Security arranged for Anush's stay in Tbilisi with an organization that provides help to women victims of domestic violence. Anush left for Uzbekistan a week later.

We find ourselves forced to ask the following questions of the agencies that helped Anush Zakharyants to escape once again, in public this time. We would like to ask Minister of Justice Davit Harutyunyan the same question we asked a year ago - How is it that everyone convicted under the trafficking article have all managed to leave prison early? Why are the structures under his jurisdiction so solicitous of convicts of this type? Why were they so considerate this time around in organizing Anush Zakharyants' escape?

We would like to ask Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan – Why was Anush Zakharyants' passport kept for two years at the Office of the Prosecutor General? Why and how was it returned to Samvel Hovhannisyan? Does the Prosecutor General's office keep the passports of other convicts as well?

We would like to receive a reply to this question from Gorik Hakobyan, Head of the National Security Service – How did the convict cross the Armenian border holding an expired passport?

Edik Baghdasaryan

Notorious Pimp Changes Name

As we have reported earlier, Amalya Mnatsakayan (Nano) and Marieta Musayelyan – both notorious pimps – took new groups of women to the United Arab Emirates in November 2006 (See also: When They Get Out of Jail, the Pimps Go Back to Work).

Amalya Mnatsakanyan is wanted by Interpol and had been arrested by UAE police on March 10, 2004 and deported. According to UAE law, Amalya Mnatsakanyan could no longer gain entry to the country. Her retina scan was stored in the computer database of the UAE Migration Service under persona non grata.

So how did Amalya Mnatsakanyan return to Dubai?

Her partners in Dubai bribed workers at the UAE Migration Service, who then deleted her retina scan from the computer database. She falsely registered a marriage in Yerevan and changed her last name to Matulyan. She then left for Dubai from Moscow, under the name Marieta Matulyan.

The two pimps continue to subject Armenian women to sexual exploitation in Dubai. Three women managed to escape from their clutches there – Armine from Hoktemberyan, Arpine from Etchmiatsin, and Dinulik, a refugee living in Yerevan. The mother of one of these women had handed her over to Nano for a sum of 800 dollars, even though she knew the fate that awaited her daughter. One of the women had sent us a note through one of our sources in Dubai, seeking help. In her letter, A wrote, “We, the slaves, hostages and servants who work under Nano and Marieta in Dubai, request and beseech all law enforcement bodies as well as persecutors' offices, security organs, newspaper editorial boards, officials in the fight against trafficking and other organizations, to save us from these two cruel executioners and to rescue us from this swamp so that we, who have been tricked, can come back home.”

The author of the letter also wrote about how she had been tricked and taken to Dubai and about the suffering that she had been subjected to at the hands of the two women and the Arabs serving them.

P.S. Since Hetq has been banned by the UAE government (See: Hetq.am Banned in the Emirates) we have had to send this article and pictures to the police in Dubai by email.

Respect for their country's law must obligate the UAE police to arrest and convict the women, sentencing them to either imprisonment or deportation.

P.P.S. In the first days of January the women who escaped from the pimps turned to the Police Department of Dubai and reported that their passports had been taken by the pimps. On January 4, the Dubai police has arrested Amalia Matulyan and Marieta Musayelyan.

In UAE they will either stand trial or will be deported to Armenia. But in Armenia these pimps who have been convicted several times before will most likely be set free.

Edik Baghdasaryan

Pimp Sentenced to Five Years In Prison

On January 31st a four-month criminal trial involving pimping and human trafficking came to an end in the Court of First Instance of Yerevan's Shengavit district. In 2006 Mayranush Harutyunyan, Susanna Nikoghosyan, and Ruzanna Baghdasaryan were charged by prosecutors with violating the Article 261of the Criminal Code of the Republic Armenia. Gayane Melkonyan was charged for violating the Articles 261 and 132, on human trafficking.

An alleged victim, Hasmik (all the names in this article are fictitious) told the court that in 2005 her acquaintance Knarik Danielyan offered her a high-paying job as a waitress in Dubai. “Being in a dire state financially and having to take care of two young children, I agreed,” Hasmik recounted.

After some time, Knarik took Hasmik to Gayane Melkonyan's house. Melkonyan immediately called Irina Yenokyan in Dubai, and then told Hasmik that she should leave Gyumri for Yerevan the next day, and from there to Dubai. Knarik reassured the surprised Hasmik and told her that she had already informed Hasmik's mother that Hasmik had found a job in Yerevan.

As soon as Hasmik reached Dubai, Irina Yenokyan seized her passport and forced her into prostitution by repeatedly beating her. Hasmik was arrested by the police in December 2005 and deported in January 2006.

“I was living in very bad conditions, so I was looking for way to earn some money, “ recounted Nazik, another victim. “My mother wasn't working, and I was studying. My grandmother was paying my tuition, and sometimes my uncle would send money from Russia. Coming home from classes I ran into Anush Harutyunyan, an acquaintance of mine, and during our conversation I told her about my financial situation. Anush said that she knew a woman who could send me abroad to earn good money, Nazik went to see Gayane Melkonyan the same day. Gayane persuaded Nazik that she had connections in Turkey and could find a high-paying job for her. Knarik Ghandilyan and Lia Bagaryan were also present during the conversation and they confirmed Gayane's words. The next day Nazik again visited Gayane, who told her that her acquaintance Meline would be arriving soon from Turkey, and then returning shortly thereafter, so Nazik could go with her.

“They asked me what I could do. Then they told me that I could earn good money, have a nice apartment, and help my family. It was Meline who offered me a waitressing job. Gayane didn't promise anything. I don't even know if Meline paid Gayane anything for me.”

Several days later Nazik traveled with Meline Gevorgyan, Gayane, and Nelli Mnatastakanyan to Turkey, expecting to work as a waitress there. Meline paid the travel costs. But there were several surprises awaiting Nazik in Turkey. Meline told her that her travel costs were $400, and that she was not going to work as a waitress, but as a prostitute, because that work was better paid there. Meline was working in the city of Ushadas under the supervision of a Kurd named Mujhdat. Mujhdat threatened the girls that if they didn't work he would sell them to pimps in Antalya or Istanbul.

“At first we were afraid, since we were in a foreign city and didn't know the language. Afterwards we agreed. After all, the debt had to be repaid. Even though my passport was with me and I could leave the hotel, I didn't run away. For three months I shared my earnings with Meline. After that, I lived for some time with my boyfriend, and then came back to Armenia, “ Nazik told the court.
Nazik testified that she considered herself quits with the defendants, but at the same time she was a victim, because she had been tricked into going to Turkey on false pretences.

Several other witnesses told the court that they had gone to Turkey with the help of the defendants, specifically to engage in prostitution. But none of them had any issues with the defendants because they went on their own initiative and of their own free will in order to make money as prostitutes.

Oddly, both the victims and the witnesses refuted the section of their preliminary statements where they mentioned Susanna Nikoghosyan as being involved in the crime as their recruiter. Susanna Nikoghosyan was a defendant in two similar cases, which were subsequently merged, a month ago that were subsequently merged.

Larisa, another victim, told the court that she was in dire straits financially and that her only source of income was her daughter's allowance and occasional money from her brother who lived abroad. She added that in very tough times she would also work as a prostitute. Larisa told her neighbor Gayane Melkonyan about her tough situation, and through Gayane, left in 2004 for Trabzon to work as a hairdresser. In Trabzon she was met by Gohar from Ijevan.

“Gohar told me that I wouldn't be able to make good money working as a hairdresser there and that in order to pay the travel debt back quickly I would have to work as a prostitute. I refused but they took away my passport and forced me out on the street. I worked for six months and gave all the money to Gohar. Only once did I send $100 back home. Later on, it was either May or June, they sold me for about $2,000 to another pimp called Ferman,” Larisa recounted. In the end the victim said that she had no complaint against Gayane Melkonyan as she hadn't tricked her and promised her a job.

In court, all the defendants with the exception of Gayane Melkonyan pled guilty and requested a lenient sentence. Judge Surik Kostanyan denied the request of Gayane Melkonyan's attorney Gurgen Grigoryan request to move the case back to the preliminary phase, and found Gayane Melkonyan guilty of violating two articles of the criminal code, sentencing her to five years in prison. Susana Hakobyan was sentenced to two years, and Mayranush Harutyunyan and Ruzanna Baghdasaryan each received one year of probation.

Varduhi Zakaryan

A Wanted Man Has Been Discovered

According to the official website of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, the Division for Anti-Trafficking and Illegal Migration of People under the Investigation Department has finished the investigation of the criminal case instituted against RA citizen S.Yeranosyan for Engaging Persons in Prostitution by reaching a preliminary agreement with a group of people.

The investigation allowed the police to find out and prove that S.Yeranosyan, temporarily residing in Turkey with the purpose of gaining profit for engaging people in prostitution, reached a preliminary agreement with Susanna Zhamharyan, convicted in the same criminal case, and with her help, in June of 2002 recruited and transported G.D. to Trabzon, where she was engaged in prostitution for more than 7 months.

In addition, in August of 2005, S.Yeranosyan recruited Irina Karapetyan in the same way, and sent her to Trabzon to be engaged in prostitution for a long time. Then he reached a preliminary agreement with the latter and in October of 2005 recruited and transported A.H., I.Karapetyan’s sister, to Trabzon, where she was also engaged in prostitution for around 3 months.

As a result of measures taken by law enforcement agencies, S.Yeranosyan has been found out and, based on the evidence, charged with crimes under part 1 of Article 261 and part 2, point 2 of Article 261 of RA Criminal Code.

Criminal Cases Against 8 Persons Are Over

According to the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, investigation of criminal cases instituted against 8 persons charged with involving others in prostitution and forging and using documents, is over. In particular, L.Stepanyan, being deported from Turkey, prepared forged passports for prostitutes, who had been deported from the country, which made possible the sending of the prostitutes to Trabzon.

On 8 January, the criminal cases of 8 persons were sent to the First Instance Court of Malatia-Sebiastia communities.

Are Strip Dancers Victims of Trafficking?

“Four Ukrainian women have been subjected to trafficking in Armenia. The women came to our country allegedly to work, but as soon as they entered the country pimps took their documents and 'made' them strip dancers. When the Ukrainian police informed us about their disappeared women, we applied to our police and found the Ukrainian women,” said Yenoq Shatvoryan, President of “Hope and Help” organization, summarizing the project on the struggle against trafficking yesterday in the UN House in Armenia.

The anti-trafficking project has been implemented in Armenia for several years. According to the representative of the NGO, during this period they substantially supported victims of trafficking, providing them with clothes, temporary dwelling, and medical, psychological and legal assistance. For these activities the organization, with the financial support of the US Embassy in Armenia, has spent around $250.000. Within the framework of the anti-trafficking project realized by the organization, Hotline 0-800-80-801 operated, with the help of which victims were able to share their problems with professionals and obtain assistance. To date, the Hotline has registered 25 applications.

34 Criminal Cases Have Been Investigated

During 9 months of 2006, 34 criminal cases on Articles 132, 231 and 262 of the RA Criminal Code (Recruitment, Transportation of Persons for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation or Forced Labor, Involvement into Prostitution, Maintaining Dens of Prostitution) have been investigated by Armenian law enforcement bodies. 29 cases have been investigated by the Investigation Department of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, 3 – by the Investigation Division of the Police Department of Shirak marz (province), and 2 - by that of Lori marz Police Department.

20 of the investigated cases against 30 persons have been sent to the court. 16 of the above-mentioned cases against 24 persons have been sent to the court by the Investigation Department of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, 3 cases against 5 persons – by the Investigation Division of the Shirak marz Police Department, 1 case against 1 person – by the Lori marz Police Department.

According to the cases which were investigated during 9 months of 2006, 121 persons have been subjected to sexual exploitation, 118 of whom were women and 3 were men. In the same period, 64 persons were called to administrative liability for Engagement in Prostitution by Article 179 of the RA Administrative Code.

During 9 months of 2006, the courts sentenced 26 persons in 20 criminal cases in accordance with Articles 132 and 262 of the RA Criminal Code.

The courts have not returned cases on the above-mentioned crimes for additional investigation, nor given any acquittals; defendants have not rejected the charges.
The investigation of 5 criminal cases is still in process, 4 criminal cases have been merged, 1 criminal case has been terminated by the Investigation Division of the Lori marz Police Department, 4 criminal cases against 7 persons have been suspended because the accused avoided investigation; they are the subject of a search now.

They Tried to Humiliate the Victim in Court

Investigation of the criminal case against Gayane Melkonyan, Sousanna Nikoghosyan, Qnarik Ghandilyan and Rouzanna Baghdasaryan continued in the Shengavit community First Instance Court, headed by Sourik Kostanyan. Before “Aravot” Daily’s appearance at the court, a closed hearing session had been already summoned. Defendants were charged with deceitfully sending Hermine Zaqaryan, a Gyumri city resident, to Dubai and forcing her to prostitute. Yesterday Hermine Zaqaryan, the victim, gave evidence in the court. She said that she was divorced 6 years ago and had two underage children. Last year on September 10 she accidentally met Knarik Ghandilyan, who, knowing that Hermine was unemployed, offered her to come to Dubai to work as a waitress. Hermine said nothing at home, and the reason, as she explained at the court, was that she had already been once deceitfully taken to Turkey. As she had already been cheated once, she wanted some guarantees from Knarik. The latter visited Hermine’s place and assured her that she would help her in finding a job in Yerevan later. The next day Gayane, another pimp, sent Hermine to Yerevan, where she stayed at “Golden Father” – Mr. Nver’s flat, which was, according to Hermine, on the way to the cemetery. Nver and his wife Lousik took Hermine to the airport. In Dubai Hermine was met  by Irina Yenokyan – “Ikoush”.
Hermine said that in the flat, rented by Irina, she found out that Gayane, Knarik and Liana (who has been already sentenced) sold her to Irina Yenokyan for $2500+300. “Irina said that I had to prostitute,” - said the victim at the court.
Hermine Zaqaryan also said that she refused to obey Irina’s demand and that Irina beat her every day for that. By the way, “Aravot” has taken pictures of Hermine’s injuries. Irina and her boy-friend Yenok constantly put out cigarettes on Hermine’s back, legs, stomach, hit her with a knife several times and broke her nose. “When they were drunk they would pour vodka on me, and hit me with a knife; my whole body is in that condition,” - cried the victim. In the flat in Dubai were Anna and Shoghik from Ejmiadzin, and Gohar and Voski from Yerevan, as well as Hripsime, so-called assistant to “Ikoush.”

Hermine stayed in Dubai from 14 September 2005 till 25 January 2006, and she knew neither English nor Arabic.

Irina Yenokyan seized her passport and got a false visa. According to Hermine, the main reason she was beaten was that Gayane and Knar informed Irina that Hermine’s mother had applied to the police. Once she called her mother and in Irina’s presence told her: “If you apply to the police, my situation will get worse.”
When Hermine’s interrogation began, the defender of the pimps almost with irony asked about the Hermine’s staying in Turkey. The victim’s lawyer Hovik Arsenyan objected to actions of his colleague, saying that he was trying to humiliate Hermine, and was putting the victim under moral and psychological pressure. The lawyer of the defendant mentioned that, according to the victim, her brother and sister were employed, but the verdict said that she was taken to Dubai because of hard social conditions. He said: “If you want to find out whether it was trafficking, let the victim answer, if she had been cheated or threatened by weapons. Let us not forget – all of them are Armenian women.”

Rouzan Minasyan

Transportation of an Underage Person to Turkey

The Division for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Their Illegal Migration of the Investigative Department of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office has finished the investigation of a criminal case, instituted by the fact of deceitfully recruiting Q.M. and underage R.S. by A.Melkoumyan and sending them to Turkey for sexual exploitation in April of 2005.

As was discovered by a preliminary agreement with G.Kirakosyan, an RA citizen temporarily living in Turkey and who has been wanted by the RA since 2003, in April, 2005, with the aim of gaining a profit from the sexual exploitation of other people, and using  a search for a job of waitress as a pretext, A.Melkoumyan deceitfully recruited and sent Q.M. and underage R.S. by bus to Trabzon. The victims were met in Trabzon by G.Kirakosyan, who took them to a rented flat, took their passports, and forced them to prostitution.

Based on the evidence, A.Melkoumyan was charged according to point 1 of the second part of Article 132 (Trafficking – translator’s note) and points 1 and 2 of part 3 of Article 132 of the RA Criminal Code.

In 2005 A.Melkoumyan was convicted for actions prescribed by Article 132 – for sending people to Dubai for sexual exploitation, and now is serving his sentence.