The court reached a fair verdict
What happened today at the first instance court of the Aragatsotni region was sensational for Armenia's judicial system. Judge Ruzanna Barseghyan reached a fair verdict for one of the charges against Sasha Davtyan. Sasha Davtyan was charged with raping her younger daughter.
"Sasha Davtyan's charge was not confirmed through a court examination," read the judge in an emotional and trembling voice. But the judge gave Sasha Davtyan a four-year sentencing for torturing her 22-year old daughter T. D.
Sasha Davtyan's two daughters had come to court with two lilies today, certain that the court was going to release their father and that the flowers would only make him happy. The trial had a very sad ending for them. They threw the flowers away and cried. "My father slapped me and did a good thing. It's not their business," says Tehmine. "But are the policemen and examiner Ruben Vardanyan who tortured us for days going to be punished?"
"We're embarrassed by our villagers. They dishonored our family," says Sasha Davtyan's brother, Samvel, who has been the daughters' guardian during this period.
Sasha Davtyan's advocate Khanum Mkrtchyan praised Judge Ruzanna Barseghyan's step and said that it was unprecedented. "Not every judge could stand above the pressures of the prosecutor's office and lift a person from a dishonorable charge."
The advocate will appeal the verdict at the Appeals Court.
Zhanna Alexanyan
