Yerevan community demands investigation of a girl's death from domestic abuse

On November, 25, an action of protest in memory of a twenty-year old Zaruii Petrosyan who died in the town of Masis on October, 1, from her husband's beating will be held in Yerevan. The participants will demand an impartial investigation of the murder.

Zaruii Petrosyan died in "Erebuni" medical center from savage beating. A cerebral haematoma, finger breaking and bruises all over the body were diagnosed. Not long before losing consciousness she said she had fallen down and struck herself, however her neighbours and her sister Asmik Petrosyan state that the young woman had been beaten up by her husband and mother-in-law.

According to the victim's sister, Zaruii Petrosyan had been regularly beaten up by her husband and mother-in-law. The woman had tried to divorce but had to return home because of threats from her husband.

"If there had been law and the police had paid more attention to such cases my sister might be alive today", Asmik Petrosyan says.

A charge has been brought against Janis Sarkisov, Zaruii Petrosyan's husband, according to point 14, part 2, clause 112 of Criminal code of Armenia, i.e. gravely damaging her health in a cruel way. In case if verdict of "guilty" is pronounced the man may be sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

Investigative actions are currently being carried out concerning Zaruii Petrosyan's mother-in-law but no official accusations have been brought against her yet, portal Аrmtoday referring to EurasiaNet reports.

The position of the victim's husband and mother-in-law is still unknown.

Zaruii Petrosyan's death has produced a large-scale response in the Armenian community and attracted attention of Armenian diaspora the world over.

Armenian non-governmental organizations "Society without Violence" and "Women's Rights Center" have started collecting signatures under a petition demanding adoption of a law on domestic abuse.

The procession on November, 25, will start from Yerevan "Cascade" complex and follow to Republic square. During the action fund-raising will be carried out. The collected money will be remitted on Zaruii's two-year-old child's banking account. The money may be withdrawn when the child reaches the age of eighteen, News.am reports.