In the course of the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceeding initiated in the Department for Investigation of Crimes on Human Trafficking, against Sexual Immunity of Juveniles and Illegal Turnover of Drugs of General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee circumstances of human trafficking committed by G.M., administrative head of Tatev settlement against V.S. were found out.

Particularly, during the preliminary investigation factual data were obtained on the allegation that working for G.M. as a livestock keeper since 2020, V.S. was to be paid 150.000-200.000 AMD according to their agreement; however, V.S. did not receive a regular salary as such, and instead, G.M. gave V.S. 50.000–100.000 AMD once or twice a month whenever money was needed.

According to G.M., the amounts taken by V.S. exceeded the payable salary by 6 million AMD, and V.S. was required to continue working without pay for about 3 years; however, the investigation revealed that these figures were inflated.

Thus, V.S. began work every day at around 6:00 AM and finished at approximately 1:00 AM at night, mostly without days off. During that time, in cases involving the loss of small livestock, as well as whenever V.S. woke up late, performed work poorly, or refused to go to work due to ill health, G.M. beat, cursed, and issued various threats against V.S., forcing the latter to continue working at all costs.

Driven by the arduous labor, V.S. attempted to escape several times and fled to Yerevan; however, G.M. exerted pressure on V.S.'s relatives to learn V.S.'s location through them, brought V.S. back, and forced to work again.

G.M. established 24-hour surveillance over V.S., requiring V.S. to inform him of any movement and forbidding from going anywhere after work.

Based on the evidence obtained through preliminary investigation, public criminal prosecution was initiated against G.M. according to the Part 1 of the Article 188 of RA Criminal Code. 

He was detained.

Preliminary investigation of the criminal proceeding is ongoing.