Nona Galastyan, who represents the interests of Mariam Sukhudyan, an active member of the S.O.S Teghut youth Green movement, has qualified the charges brought against her client as “totally baseless.” “I find the charges brought against Mariam Sukhudyan to be totally baseless and not in line with the real circumstances of the case,” Galstyan told reporters.

She pointed out that criminal proceedings have been initiated against Sukhudyan with violations of the law. Specifically, the proceedings were initiated in three months, whereas the law sets a 10-day period for the procedure. According to a warrant served on Sukhudyan on August 11, 2009, she had a status of accused. However, it was only on August 15 that a decision obliging Sukhudyan to appear as accused was made. According to Galstyan, a preliminary investigation is outside the terms of reference of the Erebuni district police department, Yerevan. She believes that the law-enforcers are thus trying to let the real culprit go unpunished. Galstyan said that their only aim is “to reveal the real circumstances of the case and hold the real culprit responsible.”

The story, which evoked public response, had its onset on November 13, 2008, after a Haylur TV report. One of the girls living in Boarding School #11 in the Nubarashen neighborhood, Yerevan told about sexual harassment on the part of a teacher. The video record was provided by active members of the S.O.S. Teghut movement. The Erebuni investigation department conducted an investigation and initiated criminal proceedings on August 11- against Sukhudyan, who was charged with false denunciation.

Incidentally, Hrair Avagyan, a member of the S.O.S. Teghut movement, who works at Boarding School #11 as volunteer, does not rule out that the charge brought against Mariam Sukhudyan is aimed at pressuring her and distracting public attention from the Teghut mine problem.