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On May 29, 30 of 2013 the Group of Public Observers Conducting Public Monitoring of Penitentiary Institutions and Bodies of the RA Ministry of Justice submitted 2 urgent reports to the RA Minister of Justice. 

The first report referred to the health state of convict D.M. placed at “Hospital for Convicts” penitentiary, who suffers from a number of diseases and his state was assessed as extremely severe. The group members recorded that the convict was in need for 24/7 care, separated ward, specialized treatment, which cannot be ensured in the “Hospital for Convicts” penitentiary. 

On May 29, 2013 through the urgent report submitted by the Group of Public Observers to the RA Minister of Justice the issues of urgently moving the aforementioned convict to the civil hospital have been raised. 

A response was received from the RA penitentiary department, pursuant to which, convict D.M. has been moved to “Armenia” medical center from “Hospital for Convicts” penitentiary, where he gets relevant treatment. In the meanwhile, the Monitoring group was also notified that the issue of early release of convict D.M. will be discussed at the upcoming session of the penitentiary administration. 

The Group of Observers highly values the willingness of the RA penitentiary department in terms of resolving the abovementioned issue. 

The other urgent report referred to the fact that on May 28, 2013 during a site visit to “Vanadzor” Penitentiary, the Group of Observers found some of the convicts with bodily injuries. With regard to this, another urgent report was submitted. 

In accordance with the “Vanadzor” Penitentiary documents and explanations provided by the administration, “On May 27, 2013 physical force (sambo trick and special measure: handcuffs) has been exerted against 3 convicts of “Vanadzor” Penitentiary” for smut talking and refusal to comply with the lawful demand to come out of the cell and for impeding the implementation of the search”. 

Over the occurrence the monitoring group expresses concerns regarding the following in particular, “Were the physical force and special measure in compliance with the convict’s deed regarding which the group records the following alarming issues: 

1. In the protocols over the application of physical force and special measures against the convicts by the penitentiary administration it isn’t clearly specified exactly what trick was exerted in relation to the convicts.
2. Was the same trick as a physical force been exerted against all of the convicts?
3. Was the applied trick in compliance with the convict’s deed?
4. As of June 3, 2013 the convicts’ injuries weren’t recorded by a forensic medical expert, although such a decision had been reached by the administration.
5. The review of various documents about convict D.M. implies that not all of the convict’s injuries are recorded.
6. Could the applied trick lead to the bodily injuries? 

We also notify that no response to the second urgent report has yet been received by the Group of Public Observers. 

Group of Public Observers Conducting
Public Monitoring of Penitentiary
Institutions and Bodies of the RA Ministry of Justice 

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