Little Allen, his friends and the state indifference
On February 26 we released an article titled “Let’s save Allen from his own family.” The article and the two videos were about little Allen, who lives with a disabled grandmother Anahit Harutyunyan and alcoholic mother Narine Harutyunyan.
On the day of our visit the child was in an extremely unprotected plight. We have been speaking about the alerting situation of the boy for over two weeks. After finding Allen’s mother drunk again on February 26, we had to report to the police because we didn’t see any other way out of the situation. We also had to raise this issue to the head of the children’s issues division of the ministry of social affairs and labor Lala Ghazaryan.
On the next day the department on custody issues convened a session, during which it was decided to give three days to the mother of the child Narine Harutyunyan. Otherwise, the board will discuss the matter of depriving her from maternity rights. By the way, during the session a document was signed, by which a group of people from the police, city council, local council, the ministry and the Facebook group members were supposed to pay daily visits and observe the situation in the household.
Yesterday we although tried to interview the head of the custody board of Kanaker-Zeitun community but it didn’t happen. In the beginning, he invited us to the community council for an interview but an hour later he changed his mind. We also tried to contact the police precinct in order to interview the relevant officers. Although they promised an interview in the evening however, they cancelled the interview. This is the attitude of our state bodies about providing information on a two-year-old boy, whose situation is of concern of numerous Armenians living in Armenia and abroad. We were in the house of Narine from the afternoon till late evening.
The house was finally properly cleaned. We found out that she hasn’t used any alcohol for two days now. She assured us that she doesn’t even have the need. When speaking to us Narine has become very sincere and told us that had been drinking for two years now.
“I have had great needs. I had to drink in order to ease the pain of seeing my son starving. I rarely bought any alcohol because never had money. I was mostly treated and when they gave me food I would bring to Allen. I lived my life in a wrong but I was desperate. I was talking to my sister a few minutes ago. She told me that this is my chance as so many people are supporting me. All the people who care about me are happy that I don’t drink anymore but I decided not to do so ever again. I really want to change my life. Please tell everyone that I have changed and they have helped me a lot. I will prove that I have changed.” Narine was really sincere when speaking to us.
She would also ask people to be next to her. What we witnessed yesterday was incredible because in this woman we saw the need of changing and becoming a housewife and a good mother for the son.
Narine assured us that she’d be willing to go to a rehab and go through treatment. But she assured that she doesn’t notice any addiction. After our publication the members of the Facebook group have been regularly paying visits to the house of Allen and observing the situation there. They provide all kinds of support. Yesterday we got convinced that many Armenian citizens are not only willing to help them materially but also be out there to help them get out of the swamp.
One of the pastors of the Armenian Apostolic Church Father Smbat also paid a visit to Narine’s house and spoke with her. He offered her to come to services. What we witnessed yesterday was very touchy and is very hard to describe. During our visit one of the representatives of Moskvichka supermarkets chain also visited Allen. He brought food, presents and items necessary for the child. Their bills have also been paid. The representative of the supermarket also deposited an essential amount of money on the accounts for commodity payments. The members of the Facebook group also initiated the renovation of the bathroom of the house.
They also contacted the ministry of education to come to visit Narine. Certain things were taken care of due to the funds provided by the minister of education. Yesterday after staying for a long time in this house we realized that Narine has a big inhibition of getting rid of her alcoholic acquaintances.
We witnessed how to drunk men were trying to come to her house. Having not known who we are they even created some conflict. As a response to our expectations, we threatened to call the police but they wouldn’t leave the house. So we had to call the police to keep the young volunteers away from a conflict. The most incredible thing is that after the publication we receive a lot of calls from our compatriots from abroad. They express their willingness to help the child. People don’t even avoid to spend time with Narine hoping that the mother might change and provide a better life for the son.
The people in Armenia and outside its borders are concerned about the future of Allen and offer their help in any way they can. All the state bodies and institutions should be ashamed that they had been aware of Allen’s situation for the past two years but they didn’t do anything to help the poor child. They become willing to help after the media circulates this information and creates big resonance. The astonishing thing is that even now the members of this family still apply to the members of the Facebook for help and not the police whenever they need any support.
Late in the evening, the members of “Let’s save Allen” group informed that several alcoholics have attempted to run into Narine’s house again but the young people kicked them out. We would like to inform the police that many young men and women are visiting Narine’s apartment and their security is in danger because of the continuing conflicts with alcoholics. After the alert call an operative group was sent but we’d like to remind that the police had promised to carefully monitor the situation. And the people in Narine’s house are volunteers and not criminalists.
By Lusine Stepanyan
P.S. Unfortunately, as a journalist in Armenia besides doing your job you have to make decisions instead of others for the sake of the destinies of other people because the state bodies, which are meant to resolve these matters are busy wasting the state means. When picking the journalism major I wasn’t told that I’d be making decisions instead of others to save lives. I don’t know what can be done when the life of a child is in danger but in the meantime I know that it’s terrible to deprive the child of the mother.
I don’t know how to oust the alcoholic and immoral moral from Allen’s life, who makes the latter’s life a living hell. And quite honestly I have gotten exhausted running after the relevant officials of city councils, ministries and social security funds and the indifferent non-governmental organizations. So maybe a little rudely but I have to say either do your jobs right or get the hell out.
