Armenia launches probe into bullying of Pakistani girl

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has opened a criminal case into bullying of a minor in one of the kindergartens in Yerevan, the committee's press service said, Report informs citing Sputnik-Armenia.

The case was initiated on the grounds of Article 119 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (torture with special cruelty motivated by ethnic, racial, religious hatred or religious fanaticism).

"On January 31, a man approached the law-enforcement officers, who said that his daughter, born in 2016, was subjected to ill-treatment in a kindergarten, which she attended from 2019 to 2021. The girl's father, an ethnic Pakistani, said that such a mistreatment was due to her origin," the investigation committee said in a statement.

Earlier, Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan said that he was painstakingly studying the issue. Employees of his office visited the kindergarten, where, according to the investigation, the child suffered severe physical and mental suffering, had a conversation with the management and educators. In addition, discussions were held with the relevant department of the Yerevan municipality.

"The Ombudsman will also send written appeals to the Yerevan City Hall and the police," the office of the human rights defender says in a statement.

Earlier the police reported bullying against the girl, who attended the kindergarten in Yerevan. According to the investigation, educators mocked the girl with the help of a group of children.