Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

A lawyer for the three Russian sisters investigated for killing their allegedly abusive dad has slammed the the country’s “lazy” cops for ignoring domestic violence.

The comments come after they were accused of violating their court ruling by leaving their homes and attending a birthday party together.

The Khachaturian sisters are part of an ongoing high-profile criminal case in Russia that provoked debate about domestic violence in the country.

Krestina, Angelina and Maria Khachaturian were arrested in July 2018 and charged with premeditated murder of their father Mikhail Khachaturian.

Reports said that when the crime was committed the sisters were 19, 18 and 17 years old.

In June 2019, the charges were upgraded to premeditated murder, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Their defence lawyer said that the sisters acted in self-defence as they were subjected to constant violence and sexual abuse by their father over a long period of time.

The story prompted a large-scale public outcry, with activists defending the sisters and demanding a change in the country’s domestic violence laws.

The sisters are in hot water again after news emerged that they allegedly attended a birthday party for Maria earlier this year that got out of hand and neighbours had to call the cops.

Also, they allegedly violated the court ruling that the sisters should not leave their homes or make contact with each other.

However, the sisters’ lawyer Aleksey Liptser denied the allegations.

Lipster told Central European News (CEN): “Information that the sisters meet up and throw parties is false. This misinformation is being spread by the victim’s representatives who are trying to deflect attention away from Mikhail Khachaturian’s misdeeds.”

He added: “The defendants have never violated the court order.”

Speaking about domestic violence in Russia, the lawyer said: “The police are reluctant to respond to the victims’ calls of domestic abuse, especially from women, because it is generally believed that they should leave it to the family members to sort things out, and they are just being lazy by reacting to such calls.”

Regarding the ongoing case of the Khachaturian sisters, Lipster said: “We are convinced that the girls were defending themselves and we are trying to prove it.”

The case continues.

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