Uncle Accuses Village Mayor of Raping 14 Year-Old Niece

Azat Ghukasyan is the mayor of the Syunik village of Hartashen. He also teaches physical education at the local school.

Some students claim that four days ago Ghukasyan instructed 14 year-old Karine (the girl’s name has been changed) to follow him to the gym. The teacher had just admonished two students for “rough behaviour”.

Gagik, the girl’s uncle, says that this isn’t the first time that the teacher has singled Karine out and led her away. Karine is mentally challenged.

“One of the girl students followed them and peaked through the key hole.” Gagik says.

The uncle says he learnt of what happened two days after the incident.

“I went to see school Principal Siroun Mkrtchyan. I was told she had gone to Goris so I approached one of the teaching specialists, Alvard Hayrapetyan. She filled me in. The other teachers told me they knew what had happened but thought it best to let the incident pass.”

Gagik says they called the police who came and took Karine and the girl who had followed her in for questioning. The police also interrogated one of the teachers.

When Hetq contacted the police, all they could say was that a criminal investigation had been launched as to whether immoral acts had been committed against a minor.

Hetq has learnt that this isn’t the first time that Azat Ghukasyan has been implicated in such a case.

Local gossip in the village says that Ghukasyan was dismissed from the job of school principal in the past for sexual misconduct with female students.

By Հetq.am