Detention Facilities Archives

Kingpins in penitentiary institutions are inviolable

 The tense relations between convicts of “Hrazdan” Penitentiary Institution D. Kh. and G. A., with whom he was sharing the cell, escalated to an argument, which, instead of being settled by the officers of the penitentiary institution, was “settled” by Andranik Hayrapetyan, who enjoys authority in the penitentiary institution and, as defined by the convicts, is a “kingpin”, and his supporters.

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The life of a Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution convict is at risk; he has diseases incompatible with the sentence

 Apart from the fact that A. O.’s state of health is incompatible with the sentence and he may be subjected to degrading treatment in the penitentiary institution, Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution, where the convict was transferred to, is notorious for its humiliating conditions for holding convicts, is overpopulated and lacks relevant medical personnel that would be able to provide A. O. with medical assistance in the case of illness.

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Open letter from Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution: detainees alert about extortions

 A group of detainees of Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution transferred an open letter addressed to RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to HCA Vanadzor Chairman Artur Sakunts and asked to publish it.

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The RA Prosecutor General refrains from giving a legal assessment to the actions of the penitentiary institution officers with respect to the case of the Iranian detainees

 HCA Vanadzor applied to the RA Prosecutor General’s Office in connection with transferring the preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated with respect to the Iranian detainees in Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution opening the doors of six cells of the penitentiary institution on April 25, 2018 to the RA Special Investigation Service.

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Alert: Employees of Armavir Penitentiary Institution refused to send the convict’s letters to the RA Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice

 On May 15, 2018, Armen Shamiryan, who is a convict at Armavir Penitentiary Institution, alerted Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor again.

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The Ministry of Justice assigned the examination of the application of the convict complaining about Armavir PI to the officers of the same penitentiary institution

 Convict at Armavir PI A. M. alerted HCA Vanadzor, mentioning that he was in strained relations with two other convicts in the same building, and, due to that, his life was threatened.

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The Ministry of Justice responds to letters about imprisoned persons selectively

 The RA Ministry of Justice responds to the letters about imprisoned persons sent by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office only to the extent that it finds suitable.

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The canned meat supplied to penitentiary institutions does not meet the established standards

 Recently, HCA Vanadzor has been receiving alerts on the quality of food in penitentiary institutions from prisoners and convicts. Publications are regularly published by the mass media in connection with the food that does not meet the established standards.

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The RA Ministry of Justice has no answers to direct questions

 Vanadzor PI prisoner E. Y., who is suffering from multiple health problems, is in a damp quarantine cell. As reported by him, the damp of the cell has a negative effect on his state of health, and his request to be transferred to the infirmary was rejected by Acting Head of the PI V. Yeghiazaryan.

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The HRD has initiated a procedure on the issue of holding the convict in the quarantine cell for longer than the established period

 On the basis of the HCA Vanadzor publication titled “The convict of Armavir PI has been in the quarantine cell for two months already instead of the assigned 7 days”, the RA Human Rights Defender has initiated a discussion procedure at his own initiative.

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In case there are factual data on the case of the deceased of the Convict Hospital, legal assessment will be given to the actions of the PI official

122359On January 16, 2018 a criminal case was initiated on Mher Kherunts’ death case at the Convict Hospital that occurred on January 3, 2018.

Within the framework of the criminal case, assessment will also be given to the conduct of First Deputy Head of the PI Arman Ayvazyan if “factual data are obtained in regard to him committing the alleged crime.”

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The convict of Armavir Penitentiary Institution has been in the quarantine cell for two months already instead of the assigned 7 days

 On December 1, 2017 convict E. T., who was moved from Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution to Armavir Penitentiary Institution, has been in the quarantine cell up to now despite the fact that, in accordance with the provisions of the RA Penitentiary Code, a convict can be held in a quarantine cell for no more than 7 days.

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