A citizen called
to the Human Rights Defender’s hotline on January 7, 2020, at about 15:50, and
informed that his brother, an arrestee named Karen Tsakhikyan kept in Prison
Hospital penitentiary institution, had a serious health condition: he had had a
heart attack, but was not receiving medical care in the penitentiary institution.
As stated by the applicant, K. Tsakighyan’s health state is incompatible with
the deprivation of liberty.
Immediately
after the calls, the authorized representative of the Human Rights Defender’s
Office contacted the Prison Hospital penitentiary institution.
The
Defender received clarifications that an emergency medical service crew was
invited to the penitentiary institution for K. Tsakighyan on January 6, 2020,
and electrocardiography was conducted. As stated by the representative of the
Prison Hospital penitentiary institution, the doctors of the emergency medical
service crew informed that K. Tsakighyan did not have heart problems, while the
deterioration of his health condition was due to muscle pain.
According
to the provided information, K. Tsaghikyan was under medical supervision, and
the penitentiary institution would call for an emergency medical service if
necessary.
The
mentioned information and a consultation was provided to K. Tsaghikyan’s
brother.
At about
22:00 of the same day K. Tsaghikyan’s brother again called the hotline of the
Human Rights Defender’s Office and informed that K. Tsaghikyan had passed away.
The applicant requested to follow up on the circumstances of his brother’s
death.
On January
6, the Human Rights Defender’s Office received clarifications from the Prison
Hospital penitentiary institution that measures are undertaken to determine the
circumstances of the death of K. Tsaghikyan.
On the case
of the death of Karen Tsaghikyan, the Human Rights Defender initiated a
discussion procedure on his own initiative and sent an official letter to the
RA Ministry of Justice.
In the view
of the case of the arrestee’s death in the penitentiary institution, the Human
Rights Defender considers it necessary to record that the cases of death in
places of deprivation of liberty should be examined for identifying the systemic
issues and outline solutions.
Such work
has not been conducted in years, which is recorded in the Human Rights
Defender’s reports. The measures, undertaken by competent state authorities to prevent
such cases, as well as to introduce necessary legal and practical mechanisms in
line with the international standards, are insufficient.
It is
required to complete the reforms with
regard to medical services in the penitentiary system: the accessibility
of proper medical services for persons in places of deprivation of liberty is
essential. Proper working conditions and guarantees are required for medical personnel
as well.
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