Action in support of "SOS Tekhut" activist held in Yerevan

In Yerevan, at the building of the investigatory department of the Erebuni community, an action took place in support of Mariam Sukhudyan, a young woman and an activist of the Movement "SOS Tekhut", accused by Armenian law enforcers of a false denunciation of a former teacher of special school No. 11 of Nubarashen.

Policemen tried to interfere into the action, demanding to remove posters and clear the way; however, the activists would not give up saying that they know their rights and do not break any law.

In the end of 2008, a report was put on air of the Public Television of Armenia, telling about permissiveness in special school No. 11 of Nubarashen. The report said that pupils of the school were subjected to sexual harassment from already former teacher of the Armenian language.

At first, the teacher denied his involvement in the crime, but then wrote a retirement application. A criminal case was opened, in which Sukhudyan was a witness; however, later she was re-qualified into the defendant.

The activists, who support Sukhudyan, demand justice, being sure that charges should be presented to the teacher, not to Sukhudyan, who had raised the issue, as reported by the "Tert.am".

In his turn, school director Meruzhan Engibaryan named the charges of sexual harassments moved by school graduates against the teacher unreasonable. "It's the fruit of their imagination," he said.

Mariam Sukhudyan herself connects the charges against her with her activity in the movement named "SOS Tekhut", which voices against the development programme of the Tekhut deposit. Ecologists stick to the opinion that development of the deposit will not only tell fatally on the ecology of the area, but also will render negative influence on the health of the residents.

On August 19, Ms Sukhudyan refused to give any evidences until her complete acquaintance with the materials of case, as reported by the "News.am".

The "ArmeniaToday" reports that a number of human rights organizations of Armenia have spoken in defence of Sukhudyan, in particular, the Helsinki Association, "Socioscope", "Asparez" Journalists' Club, Helsinki Civil Assembly and others.