Wednesday, December 20, 2006

For Araz.

July the 24th 2006 at about 1:30am, my friend Araz, a 17-year old girl, was with some friends at a dance club in Yerevan.

On their way home, they had to stop off at a friend's home to pick up some of their belongings. They were in a taxi, which they got out of on Baghramyan Street, and when Araz and her sister were crossing the street, Araz was hit by a reckless driver.

This was a split-second after she let go of her sister's hand.

They tried calling an ambulance, but there was no phone connection. They tried stopping passing cars, but nobody stopped. Her brother carried Araz and ran to a car that drove them to the hospital, but it was too late. Araz wasn't breathing anymore.

A 3-month long trial was held to punish the driver, and in the end the man received 2 years of probation, not allowed to leave the country and drive for 2 years. Not even 6 months after the incident, the man's sentence was annulled since it was his first such crime.

Araz was just about to turn 18, and had just graduated from high school, and looking forward to university.There is NOTHING being done in Armenia to prevent dangerous driving.

The majority of police seem to care less about preventing such accidents. Anyone who has been to Armenia knows how bad the situation is.

Please sign petition titled Araz Petition hosted with free Petition hosting site.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Anoush
It was the "water day". Everybody especially teenagers were cheerfully pouring water on all passersby. I was wet all over my cloths. Laughing all the way, we were coming back home together with my wife Moujan at 1:00. I suddenly noticed blood shed on the street. I shouted:" Watch out Moujan, this is blood all over the street". She tried to skip passing over it, but ... from that night on, Araz who I never knew before, and still do not know has been in my mind almost everyday. I have not yet recovered from the mood. I could imagine her parents sorrow. and what else? The yellow taxi was crashed. can u guess what happened to poor girl? well after all she was a "foreigner". Sending a "Citizen" to jail for a "Foreigner"? there are much more stories. we need much more time. let's hope for a better life.

Steve said...

That is sad. The driving here is some of the worst I've seen, even compared to Moscow and Baku. Although at least there are some crosswalks here, unlike the other two places.