Having links to the criminal world is not an obstacle to working as the head of a penitentiary institution
18:43, December 27, 2017 | News, Own news | Detention Facilities
On May 7, 2017 media outlets reported that Serob Harutyunyan, the previous head of the Kotayk Provincial Department, who was dismissed due to having close links to the criminal world, was appointed as Chief of Nubarashen Penitentiary. Along with other officials, he was dismissed from office upon the order of the Chief of the RA Police in February 2016.
According to the information circulated by the media, the above mentioned officials regularly participated in parties held by the representatives of the criminal world.
After continuous warnings the Chief of the Police decided to dismiss them.
Given the fact that the office of the head of a penitentiary institution also implies a link to the criminal world, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office finds that there can be no justification for appointing the Chief of the Police Department dismissed on the grounds of links to the criminal world to office in an institution that has immediate links to the criminal world.
On November 28, 2017 HCA Vanadzor turned to the the Minister of Justice with regard to dismissing from office Chief of Nubarashen Penitentiary Serob Harutyunyan and developing a legislative act aimed at excluding the appointment of people who have links to the criminal world to the office of the chief of a penitentiary institution and their remaining in office.
On December 19, 2017 Deputy Minister of Justice S. Krmoyan responded that the grounds for dismissing one from penitentiary service were defined by law, and Serob Harutyunyan complied with “the requirements for a penitentiary servant to hold the post of Chief of the penitentiary institution.”
According to the Deputy Minister of Justice, “the information published in the media cannot serve as a basis for dismissing someone.”