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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.

On January 12, 2018 HCA Vanadzor turned to RA Minister of Justice with regard to this issue. The Organization inquired whether the food products supplied to penitentiary institutions undergoes examination. If yes, the Organization requested to provide copies of expertise conclusions. If no, the Organization requested to subject the canned meat, butter and oil to expertise as the complaints particularly refer to these types of products.

Deputy Head of the RA MoJ Penitentiary Department V. Melkonyan, in his response dated February 1, 2018, mentioned that “purchased products undergo examinations as necessary.”

V. Melkonyan indicates that violations are regularly identified when testing canned meat. That is why, as reported by the deputy head of the department, the agreements signed with regard to this have been terminated.

The response with the copies of the expertise conclusions provided to HCA Vanadzor can be accessed here.

The group of public observers conducting public monitoring in penitentiary institutions and bodies of the RA MoJ also stated that the food supplied to penitentiary institutions does not meet the established standards.

The group’s report of 2016 indicates that food that is non-compliant with the standards is supplied to penitentiary institutions. Sanitary and hygienic conditions for food preparation are unsatisfactory. As a result, persons in places of confinement simply refuse to eat that food and mainly get the food from their family members in the form of deliveries.