In one of Yerevan's well-known districts, "Tezi Krug," women providing sexual services often find themselves in dire conditions. Some are there of their own free will, but there are also those who become victims of brutal exploitation. One of the victims, Lilit, says it all began with a simple commercial relationship, when she and a friend took food and clothing on credit from a local woman trader. The goods were given at excessively high prices, and the debt amount was later artificially inflated.
The trader suggested the women go to "Tezi Krug" and provide sexual services to pay off their debts quickly. But what seemed like well-meaning advice soon turned into harsh coercion. The women were obligated to work every day, and not even a tiny share of the money they earned stayed with them. The accused kept them under constant surveillance, forbidding them to go home without collecting the large daily sums set for them.
According to investigative authorities, the women's vulnerable situation was skillfully exploited. They had no home of their own, no supportive relatives or other source of income, which left them entirely tied to the accused. Beyond the prices of goods, additional debts were recorded against the women, including daily car rental fees and the costs of unused spare parts. When the debts reached enormous proportions, they turned to law enforcement.
This story exposes the deep social wounds in which people without protection often find themselves. The response of law enforcement is an important step, but such cases show that coercion mechanisms operating in shadow sectors often remain unnoticed for a long time due to systemic shortcomings. Without comprehensive social support and oversight, criminal cases alone will not be enough to eradicate such phenomena.
