Penitentiary Department officers “assure” that the person accused of preparing Don Pippo’s attempted murder is not in danger
10:28, October 24, 2017 | News, Own news | Right to be free from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment | Detention Facilities
As we informed before, on October 6, 2017 HCA Vanadzor applied to RA Justice Minister D. Harutyunyan to ensure the security of Arkadi Kochinyan accused of organizing the attempted murder of crime boss Artur Asatryan (Don Pippo).
In its letter to the Minister, HCA Vanadzor stated that both A. Kochinyan’s parents and the media outlets alerted that his life was in danger. Note that the detainee was moved from an isolation ward considered relatively safe at ‘Nubarashen’ penitentiary facilities to a common cell where his life and health were endangered.
Before the RA Ministry of Justice replied to HCA Vanadzor’s letter, A. Kochinian’s parents once again alerted about the problem to the Organization.
In spite of that, in his letter dated October 13, 2017, R. Hovhannisyan, Deputy Head of the RA MoJ Penitentiary Department, insisted that the studies of the problem showed that “A. Kochinyan’s security was ensured as prescribed by law.”
Interestingly, to support his statement, the Deputy Head of the RA MoJ Penitentiary Department cited the explanations provided by A. Kochinyan on October 11, 2017.
Note that A. Kochinyan’s parents have so far alerted about the risk to their son’s life and on October 16 HCA Vanadzor made a statement demanding to take measures to ensure his security.
In other words, on the one hand, A. Kochinyan mentions in his explanations to the Penitentiary Department as if he faces no risks and on the other, he alerts his family about the risks he faces.
Obviously, a person in a closed institution is practically deprived of any opportunity to provide impartial explanations. How could he complain of a system set up with the knowledge and consent of the administration of the penitentiary facilities when he was under the potential influence of ‘prison bosses’ and crime bosses applying unwritten rules at the penitentiary facilities on the one hand and under pressure of the administration of the penitentiary facilities on the other?
HCA Vanadzor will carry on focusing on the state of protection of A. Kochinyan’s rights and his safety at the penitentiary facilities.