Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women Demands Dismissal of Syunik Governor

The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women in Armenia is demanding that Suren (Surik) Khachatryan, governor of the southern Armenian marz (province) of Syunik, be immediately sacked for assaulting a woman.

“The governor publicly slapping businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan at Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan in November did not even receive public condemnation by our government. And recently, during his visit to Qajaran, Surik Khachatryan threatened eco-activist Mariam Sukhudyan. This would be unacceptable in any civilized society. When a man, especially a government official displays such violent behavior and the government does not at least condemn it or punish it, it is a message to all that violence against women is condoned and an accepted practice in Armenia,” reads the statement issued by the group.

The Coalition notes that such acts reinforce a culture of violence and encourages violence towards women, “which is so rampant among Armenian families.”

“We ask that the governor be sacked for such uncivilized behavior,” conclude authors of the statement who ask members of the public to sign the petition demanding Khachatryan’s dismissal at http://www.change.org/petitions/-117.

Over a hundred people have already signed the petition, which was launched yesterday evening.