Azat Ghukasyan, mayor of the Syunik village of Hartashen, has been sentenced to 8 years for the rape of a 14 year-old girl.

The girl was a student in Ghukasyan’s gym class at the local school. He was arrested last March for ordering the mentally challenged student into the gym and violating her sexually.

The state prosecutor had motioned the court to cut the sentence down to seven years. The attorney representing the girl asked for 25 years.

Hetq broke the story in February 2012 when the girl’s family went to the police to report their allegations. (See: Uncle Accuses Village Mayor of Raping 14 Year-Old Niece)

When Hetq contacted the police, all they could say was that a criminal investigation had been launched as to whether immoral acts had been committed against a minor.

At first, a criminal investigation based on Article 142 (Lecherous Acts) of the RA Criminal Code had been launched. Soon after, the charge was changed to Article 138 (Rape).

When the trail got underway, Hetq learnt that this wasn’t the first time that Azat Ghukasyan has been implicated in such a case.

Hetq tracked down a 21 year-old woman named Anna Mkrtchyan who publicly stated that she had killed her baby, born out of a relationship of fear and intimidation with Azat Ghukasyan. (See: Mother Says She Killed Her Baby, Claims Hartashen Mayor Ghukasyan Was the Father)

Mkrtchyan made the same allegation on August 23, 2012 at the trial of Ghukasyan involving the rape of the 14 year-old girl.

Anna Mkrtchyan testified that her troubles started when she was in the ninth grade and was suspected of robbing a neighbor’s house. She claimed that Ghukasyan called her into his office and promised to assist her. He then invited Anna to the police station where they would write her side of the story. Anna says that’s when their relationship began.

The young woman says that Ghukasyan always threatened her not to tell anyone of their meetings, otherwise he would see that she was jailed for the robbery.

Ghukasyan was never implicated in the killing of the child. As to the charges of forcing Anna, a minor at the time, to have sexual relations, they were dropped by the judge under the terms of an amnesty.

Karen Mezhlumyan, who is representing the 14 year-old girl, says he demanded 25 years for Azat Ghukasyan because there had been three instances of rape, not one.

“There hasn’t been just the one crime committed, but three. The punishment must be cumulative,” said Mezhlumyan.

Mezhlumyan also said that Ghukasyan never admitted his guilt or expressed regret for what he had done.

He says that he will appeal the eight year sentence.