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On November 5, 2015, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor submitted to the RA Ministry of Justice its analysis and relevant recommendations on the right to be released on parole of persons receiving methadone substitution treatment.

Also, HCA Vanadzor expressed its willingness to take part in further discussions and provide clarifications as necessary.

Almost 2 weeks later, in its response note of November 19, 2015, the Organizational and Legal Department of the RA Ministry of Justice mentioned that the Ministry currently developed a new Draft Order of the RA Justice Minister on Approving the Procedure for Operation of Structural Departments Engaged in Social, Psychological and Legal Activities with Detainees and Convicts, and the recommendations submitted by the Organization would be considered during discussions of the Draft.

In its response note of December 3, 2015, the Legislative Development and Legal Analyses Department of the RA Ministry of Justice stated that “currently there was no need to make any amendments to the procedure approved by the Order based on the … recommendation” submitted by HCA Vanadzor.

In particular, referring to a number of legal regulations, the Ministry of Justice stated that despite the fact that “methadone was used during treatment as a remedy, the stage of such persons’ complete recovery may take long, and the effect of their health on their behavior may persist even after completing the treatment course; therefore, it cannot be considered reasonable not to register such persons as persons at risk at the beginning of the treatment or at its early stages.”

Moreover, they consider prescribing convicts methadone treatment to constitute a differentiated approach: “They already face a differentiated approach, and within a year after receiving treatment, such convicts may be withdrawn from registration and as a result considered not at risk”.

Thus, upon being considered by various departments of the RA Ministry of Justice, the recommendation above submitted by HCA Vanadzor was eventually rejected.

See the entire analysis here.