Criminal Case Launched Against School Principal who Cursed and Scratched Student

On instructions from the Armavir marz (province) general prosecutor, a criminal case has been launched with the RA Police Armavir marz investigative department on the city of Etchmiadzin’s no. 2 high school principal assuming official duties, reports the RA General Prosecutor’s press service.

Local daily 168 Zham (“168 Hours”) published an article in its Feb. 15–16, 2011 issue titled “The School Principal Swore at Me.” According to the article, A. Harutyunyan, a former grade 10 student at no. 2 high school in the city of Etchmiadzin in Armavir marz, in Dec. 2010 was harassed by the school principal S. Nazaryan’s son and his friends and on Jan. 31, 2011, was subject to a beating by them. The next day, the school principal cursed, hit and scratched with her nails A. Harutyunyan in front of all the other students, then forced him to go to another school. Nazaryan also reprimanded Harutyunyan’s grandmother, B. Yeghiazaryan, who is a history teacher at the school, during a board meeting.

After the story was published, upon instructions by the Armavir marz general prosecutor, on Feb. 15, 2011, materials were prepared for investigation at the RA Police Armavir marz investigative department. Upon examining the evidence, a criminal case was launched under RA Criminal Code Article 309 Section 1, which reads, in part: “Actions willfully committed by an official which obviously exceed his authorities and caused essential damage to the rights of citizens, organizations, state or legal interests.”

On assignment by the Armavir marz general prosecutor, with the aim of ensuring the investigation’s objectivity, multi-facedness and comprehensiveness, the investigative body has made press reports on this criminal case subject to examination.