Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05YEREVAN2051
2005-11-22 12:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:  

ARMENIA AS A DESTINATION COUNTRY--GOAM

Tags:  PGOV PREL KCRM PHUM AM KTIP UA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 002051 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR G/TIP, DRL AND EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM PHUM AM KTIP UA
SUBJECT: ARMENIA AS A DESTINATION COUNTRY--GOAM
RESPONDS WELL TO FIRST TIP CASE

(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 002051

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR G/TIP, DRL AND EUR/CACEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCRM PHUM AM KTIP UA
SUBJECT: ARMENIA AS A DESTINATION COUNTRY--GOAM
RESPONDS WELL TO FIRST TIP CASE

(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) Tracking an alarm received from the "Hope and
Help" NGO, the National Security Service (NSS),on
November 16, discovered four trafficking victims from
Ukraine in one of Yerevan's night-clubs. This is the
first clear case of trafficking in which Armenia was
the destination country and the government responded
both quickly and appropriately. The victims, one of
whom is a minor, are currently in the Hope and Help
shelter and will return to Ukraine shortly. The
Prosecutor General's Office took the lead on this case
on November 18 and launched a criminal case on charges
of Article 132.2 of the Criminal Code, i.e.,
Trafficking with aggravating circumstances. End
Summary.

--------------
IOM/HOPE AND HELP/NSS - EFFECTIVE COOPERATION
--------------


2. (SBU) The "Hope and Help" NGO (which implements an
INL-funded anti-Trafficking project through IOM
including a safe-haven shelter) received an alarm about
two Ukrainian victims on November 15 from the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kiev
office via IOM's Yerevan office. One of the victims
had managed to inform her parents about her situation,
and the parents had applied to the IOM-Kiev office.
The National Security Service (NSS),whom "Hope and
Help" contacted, reacted quickly and the next day,
November 16, discovered four (instead of the expected
two) Ukrainian victims in a night-club (entertainment
complex) called "Khrjit" (Hut) located in the Masis
rural area near Yerevan's southern city limits.

--------------
VICTIMS' DETAILS
--------------


3. (SBU) The victims (ages 16, 19, 23 and 32) were
recruited in Kiev by an Armenian, Ashot Hovsepyan, who
had promised them high earnings working as striptease
dancers. Upon arrival, the traffickers took travel
documents from the victims and forced them to strip-
dance for little or no money and occasionally forced
them to have sexual intercourse with their clients.
The traffickers imposed exaggerated debts on the
victims for travel, clothing and other expenses, which
the victims had to repay. The victims had been in
Armenia for periods ranging from 20 days to 4 months.

--------------
OTHER VICTIMS IN ARMENIA IN THE PAST
--------------


4. (SBU) According to "Hope and Help" the victims were
under tight control, and went through both
psychological and physical pressure (including
beatings, rape). According to the victims, some 10-12
other girls, both Ukrainian and Armenian, have been
kept in this night club in the same manner in the past.
"Hope and Help" intends to send the girls back to
Ukraine as soon as possible (tentatively November 27)
with IOM-Kiev's funds. One of the girls, however, has
decided to stay in Yerevan, as she is a professional
dancer and wants to earn money in Armenia. (Note:
Despite this fact, she was in the same situation as the
others, i.e. she was also victimized. End Note.)

-------------- --
CRIMINAL CASE LAUNCHED UNDER THE PROPER STATUTE
-------------- --


5. (SBU) On November 18, the Prosecutor General's
Office launched a criminal case on charges of Article
132 against Ashot Hovsepyan, the recruiter in Ukraine,
and Sos Meliksetyan, the night-club owner. Ashot
Hovsepyan's location is unknown, Sos Meliksetyan is in
Yerevan, although not currently in custody. The
Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Armenia was the
final destination country of these women. The
Prosecutor's Office is actively investigating the case,
taking testimony of the victims and questioning the
defendant.

--------------
COMMENT


6. (SBU) We are pleased with this result so far. Our
calls to publicize Armenia's National Action Plan seem
to have borne some fruit. The NSS was well aware of
IOM and "Hope and Help's" resources and took full
advantage of them. We will monitor the actions of the
Prosecutor's Office, since it has proven in the past to
be the weakest link in Armenia's anti-TIP effort.


7. (SBU) Armenia's capital is full of night-clubs,
casinos, and entertainment complexes (with saunas and
motels),some of which openly advertise sexual
services. Lack of prior legal action, however, has
resulted in little public attention to the possibility
of trafficking within these facilities. This case may
signal a new pattern of trafficking in Armenia, which
Post will follow closely.
EVANS