December 2009, the beginning of her hectic married life

Mariam Gevorgyan was 20 years old when she married 26 years old David Ziroyan and moved from the village Taperakan in Ararat region to distant  Saint-Petersburg to lead a happy life with her husband. It seemed like a fairytale, but soon...

-She would hit me with a fork in case the curtians weren't normally fixed. She'd beat me if I failed to do the laundry in 2 minutes. She'd beat me with a rolling pin, all over my body and each of my fingers. That's why I can't close my fingers normally. She used to burn my back and hands with an iron, and she used to burn my breast. She made me take out my tongue and she'd burn it with a lighter and put soap on it for more pain.I had to stand naked by the open windows in autumn to catch cold. She would also use psychological pressure by telling me that nobody cared.

This is what happened to ''the happy marriage'' of Mariam who was tortured by her husband and mother-in-law for ten months.

October 2011, amnesty to the criminal

Mariam was David's second wife. The first wife was also treated like that, but Mariam learned that only after marriage.Mariam and David's first wife made an announcemnet in the Ararat Police Department.David was accused by the RA Criminal Law, according to the articles ''for hurting another's health to medium level on purpose'' and ''Beating''. His mother was accused by the same article, but for doing it ''with particular violence''. As David Ziroyan's crime was punished by 3 years of inprisonment, the court implemented amnesty and David didn't spend a day in prison.

December 2011, publicity of the harrassing story

It seemed like nothing could restore the truth.No one would possibly learn anything about  Mariam's story if it was't for the “Hetq”  article  entitled ''Tale of Terror: Young Newlywed Seeks Justice for 10 Months of Cruel Mistreatment''. The article told everything about Mariam and the torture inflicted by her husband and mother-in-law.

“I have incurable scars not only on my face and body, but also on my soul, that can't be forgotten”,- mentioned Mariam Gevorgyan, a girl who suffered violence on behalf of her husband and mother-in-law, during one of her interviews.

The story of a young lady subjected to domestic violence and tortured by her mother-in-laws hocked the public.The public response both from citizens concerned and NGOs followed immediately.The Coalition to Stop Violence against Women'', which is a union of 7 NGOs, started to investigate the case.''Society Without Violence'' NGO which is also a member of the coalition could't remain silent neither.

The coalition did't save efforts in its struggle for fair and transparent court,as well as just verdict.

''I want them to be punished, but our law won't  do anything at the current point'',- Mariamwas concerned.

Unfortunatelly, Mariam's fear had its grounds. The lack of Law on Doemstic Violence makes the protection procedure of domestic violence survivors vulnurable.

22 court sessions, 22 protest demonstations for justice

The Coalition to Stop Violence against Women organized a protest demonstration in front of the prosecutor’soffice even before the accused HaykanushMiqayelyan was brought to Armenia by the Police.Afterwards, when she was already in Armenia, the coalition took part in all the sessions by protest demonstrations for transparent investigation.

''Jus-tice !!'

''O-pen court !.O-pen court!''

One of the main reasons for the protest was the fact that the trials were closed without any proper justification.Such a decision by the Court challenged the information flow.The sessions were always full of active citizens, who had to stand outside the court with posters to support Mariam in her struggle for justice as the sessions were closed.

The relatives of the mother-in –law were also coming to the courtsessions and were holding posters saying ''Freedom to the innocent woman!'' and ''Blackmailers-sneaks!''

-Mariam had a skin disease!Look at her pictures! Who'd marry her? Let's find a man who'd agree to marry her. What is this? Is this a body? , - the relatives were telling showing the pictures.

-In 2009 they made me marry her without saying she had a skin disease. She smelled so bad!,- David, Mariam's ex-husband,  was telling angrily. This way he was trying to justify his and his mother's violentactions.

Several days before the verdict announcement, the Coalition to Stop Violence against Women organized a press conference aimed at presenting details that weren't made public due to the rules for closed sessions.

_ The criminal has to be imprisoned. (Coalition member)

_We'll see! (Haykanush's relative)

_Why are you so sure? (Coalition member)

_We made a call to where necessary. They told us! (Haykanush's relative)

The permanent confidence of husband and his relatives were a point to worry about.Each decision by the Court showed a new sign of partial attitude.We lost the hope for justice in some points because we were in a country where money and power solve the problems.

-You'd do nothing with your protests,-relatives of Haykanush were telling us and showing aggressive attitude towards theprotestants.

''Stand up, the Court is coming!'': an easy verdict and president's amnesty

On November 30 the Court of First Instance of Ararat and Vayots Dzor found Haykanush Mikayelyan - the mother-in-law of domestic violence survivor Mariam Gevorgyan, guilty and sentenced her to 4 years imprisonment. However, the final punishment will be reduced by 1/3 due to time already served in prison and due to the amnesty applied by the Court. In total,the mother-in-law who had tortured her daughter-in-law for10 years will be kept in prison for only 1 year 2 months.

This kind of verdict could not satisfy the Coalition.As the member of the Coalition, Society Without Violence NGO spoke about this case once more during the public event that was part of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence by presenting the case and condemning the court unfair decision.

''Society will never forgive the one who was forgiven by the Court (subjected to amnesty),-this was what Society Without Violence NGO members were telling.

First step to stop domestic violence is to speak out: Mariam found the strength to speak

Mariam Gevorgayn's case is exceptional as she understood the need to struggle in time and took appropriate measure. It can be takenas a precedent as it's hard to find any other examplewhen a woman speaks loudly about domestic violence, is notafraidof public opinion, struggles for her right to live and succeeds.

Mariam Gevorgayn proved with her examplethat domestic violence which is a closed theme in Armenia, is against the law and is punished by the criminal law. The moral support of the public and NGOs, as well as their well-organized common actions were also of great value.Mass media was covering the issue permanently. The resistance and will of NGO representatives in achieving justice also played a crucial role.The verdict for Haykanush was very light but it is still a victory, as the criminal was accused guilty and imprisoned.

Mariam Gevorgyan’s victory is the second victory of the.  Mariam's case toghether with Zaruhi Petrsoyan's case, revealed that

• Domestic violence is a huge problem in Armenia
• Domestic violence cases won't be uncovered and unpunished
• There is an urgent need for Domestic Violence Law adoption.

The first step to punish domestic violence is to adopt a Law on Domestic Violence.

A Law on Domestic Violence will reduce the cases of domestic violence and will ensure just punishment for those who implement domestic violence, as well as support domestic violence survivors.The Law will put the problem on legal grounds and will provide tools and mechanisms for its solution.

The adoption of Law on Domestic Violence will mean the acknowledgement of the problemas that, thus resulting in procedures to create problem solution mechanisms.

However, there is one nagging question remains. How many cases of domestic violence do we have to witness to fully understand the importance of waging a struggle against it? How many more Mariams will have to suffer while the Davids of this world enjoy their  freedom and the Haykanush's get an easy punishment for their crimes? 

Anna Nikoghosyan

Anush Khachatryan

''Soceity Without Violence'' NGO