The
representatives of the Department for Prevention of Torture and Ill-Treatment
(the National Preventive Mechanism) of the Human Rights Defender’s office
conducted unannounced monitoring visits to the persons deprived of their
liberty at temporary detention centers of Kotayk and Aragatsotn regions.
Visits
were paid to the residences of Yeghvard, Hrazdan, Charentsavan and Ashtarak.
The
conditions of the temporary detention cells of the persons deprived of liberty
of the aforementioned courts were studied, and private conversations were held
with the persons deprived of liberty, as well as with the court staff, bailiffs
and officers of the Police escort battalion.
During
the studies, the following issues were recorded:
•
There are very unsatisfactory conditions in the Hrazdan residence of the court
at Kotayk. The only cell for keeping persons deprived of liberty is located on
the first floor of the building, where there are no windows, natural lighting,
and no ventilation. There is no chair in the cell, and the only table served
mainly as a storage room, with a large number of folders on it. There was no
bathroom for persons deprived of their liberty, and they had to use a common
bathroom. Unlike other rooms of the building, the cell also lacked a heating
system, which is unacceptable, considering the need to ensure a proper thermal
regime in the cells, especially during cold weather conditions.
• In
all of the monitored courts, cell bathrooms were not separated from the living
area of the cell by a full wall and had no doors. Moreover, the walls were low
that did not cover the person even up to the waist. This situation is
especially unacceptable regarding the dignified treatment of a person and the
inviolability of his or her private life. The issue is more sensitive when the
person deprived of liberty is a woman, and the employees of the accompanying
battalion are mostly men.
• The
unsatisfactory conditions of the cells of Ashtarak residence, which were
recorded in the past, continue to be a matter of concern. The cell doors are
covered with open bars, and the bathrooms inside are clearly visible from the
hallway. This is a violation of the right to dignified treatment of a person
and the privacy of his or her private life. Moreover, there was no water in the
cell, and it was only provided in plastic bottles.
• It
is also unacceptable that all bathrooms are only Asian type. Court cells and
cell bathrooms are not adapted to the needs of persons with mobility problems.
Considering the fact that the court buildings are not adapted to the needs of
persons with mobility problems, the transfer from the cells to the courtroom is
unacceptable in the context of human rights and dignity. In addition, the cells
also need repair as wall plasters were falling off and the cracks were visible.
•
There was no window in one of the cells of Ashtarak residence, natural lighting
was provided by a bar, and there was no proper ventilation.
• Hygiene items were missing in the
aforementioned cells, in particular, soap, sanitary paper, trash can in
Yeghvard and Ashtarak residences, soap and trash can in Charentsavan residence,
and lack of chair and sanitary paper in one of the cells.
• In
any of the cells there were no conditions necessary for the reception of food
for persons deprived of liberty. Information was also received that food is not
provided to them by penitentiary institutions.
•
During the monitoring, the transportation of persons deprived of their liberty
to the court was also studied. The dimensions of the car cells did not meet
international standards, they did not have sufficient lighting and ventilation,
and they were not adapted to the needs of people who need to move.
• It
was also recorded that not all cars have a seat for escorting policemen, and
they have to use a homemade wooden seat.
These
problems have a systemic nature and are constantly recorded in the reports of
the Human Rights Defender.
The
results of the visit are summarized and relevant proposals will be presented to
the competent state bodies.
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