Armine Mkhoyan, Senior Investigator of the Lori Marz Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee dreamed of entering the Police Academy since school years. She thought that the aspiration to become a police officer fully corresponds to her nature and character.

We talked with Armine Mkhoyan in the framework of “The Investigator Presents” series of interviews of Iravaban.net.

– What was the reason that you decided to enter the Police Academy and become a police officer?

– Not tolerating injustice, prejudice, being as impartial as possible, I decided to fight against the vicious phenomena of the society, to contribute to the establishment of the constitutional right of a human-citizen to live and act in a healthy society. The image of a policeman has been an ideal for me and fully in harmony with such traits of my character as courage, persistence and impartiality.

– Why did you decide to move from the police system to the Investigative Committee? Were those changes easy?

– Service in the police system made me quite experienced. There came a moment when I realized that I had succeeded in achieving the goal I was striving for as a police officer. My desire for self-development, to meet new challenges, my acquired experience and knowledge pushed me to find a new field of self-expression, a different field of law, the field of investigation. I can easily cope with transitional changes, thanks to the knowledge and experience gained during the service in police.

– What problems do female investigators face?

– When conducting investigative activities, in the initial period, I felt that at first they refer to her as a woman, as a fragile woman, and not or not so much as a professional. But during the further relationship, they understand that a woman can master her rank, be as firm, decisive and practical as a man. I think this is a phenomenon specific to the Armenian way of thinking, which is gradually being broken due to the successful involvement and success of women in various spheres of the society, even in the spheres traditionally considered masculine.

– What risks does the investigator’s work contain in general?

– The activity of the investigator is such that, due to the service, we deal with all kinds of people, starting from persons who have committed an alleged crime, from offenders to high-ranking officials. There are always risks, especially if you do not know what behavior an alleged offender might exhibit during interrogation. In any case, not only professional experience and skills help, but also the correct psychological approaches, the ability to quickly orientate and correctly assess the situation.

– You were the head of the Juvenile Affairs and Family Violence Prevention Division of the Tashir Police Department. What kind of complexity cases have you encountered?

– In the police, as the head of the Juvenile Affairs and Family Violence Prevention Division, my goal was to support all minors, families who have unfavorable social conditions, minors who have upbringing problems, are isolated from society, have communication difficulties and are easily prone to crime and are being targeted by crime. I considered my job a success if I was able to put such juveniles on the right track, prevent them from delinquent behavior.

– What problems do you see in the field of family violence prevention, what steps should be taken to reduce the number of such cases?

– Perhaps the idea of family has changed for many people in our time. To some extent, self-centeredness has come to the fore, making secondary the realization that there should be a healthy atmosphere in the family, based on compromise, mutual understanding, complementing each other, overcoming problems together, and mutual respect. The lack of these qualities is the main cause of divorce, having a negative effect on the upbringing of teenagers.

– Can you remember what was the event that had an effect on you mentally?

  – There is an indelible case that has affected my inner world as a person. I was still a new employee and faced a brutal crime case. On 20 October, 2003, B.Kh., a resident of Tashir city, raped a minor girl and killed her with 23 stab wounds. But that case was also an important test in the sense of inner self-control, balance and the ability to control emotions.

– In films, we often meet characters of investigators. How true is what is shown on the screen?

– I cannot answer clearly. I can only point out that the character of the investigator in the films is not presented in its entirety, in some cases, in accordance with its mission. The riskiness of the investigator’s work, the level of workload, not to mention such qualities as professionalism and devotion to the country, are not truly visible.

– What impact did the investigator’s work have on your personal life?

  – Both in the police and in the investigation field, I devoted all my energy and time to my work, I did not have time to devote to my personal life. Maybe this is a flaw, but it is what it is.

– How did your relatives accept the decision to enter the system?

– Positive. They have never opposed or hindered my service in the power structure and the Investigative Committee. On the contrary, they have always inspired me, I have always felt supported, and I am truly grateful to them for that.

– Have you had any example in the field that you wanted or would like to be like?

– I don’t have specific personal examples. But I have always tried to learn from my senior colleagues, to master their working skills and knowledge.

This initiative, implemented in cooperation with the RA Investigative Committee and the Iravaban.net website, aims to properly present to the public the main directions of the work carried out by the preliminary investigation body, to reflect on the peculiarities of pre-trial proceedings and other issues of public importance.