On
the instructions of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia,
representatives of the Department for the Prevention of Torture and
Ill-Treatment (National Preventive Mechanism) of the Human Rights Defender’s
Office carried out a two-day unannounced monitoring visit to the “Armavir”
penitentiary institution of the Ministry of Justice in September and October
2025.
During
the visit, inter alia, the subject of study was the staffing of penitentiary
employees and their working conditions, the state of food, medical care and
service provision for persons deprived of their liberty in the penitentiary
institution, as well as issues related to the contact with the outside world,
psychological support and resocialization, etc.
The
Human Rights Defender welcomes the renovation works carried out in the
“Armavir” penitentiary institution in 2025, as a result of which the medical
building and the quarantine unit cells of the institution have been completely
renovated.
At
the same time, problems have been recorded, some of which are systemic.
Thus:
▪️ not
all persons admitted to the penitentiary institution were provided with the
necessary bedding, tableware, and hygiene items,
▪️ the
video surveillance systems available in the buildings did not cover the entire
area of the penitentiary institution and often had technical problems
reproducing the footage, which is problematic from the perspective of
preventing torture, ill-treatment, and ensuring security,
▪️ the
punishment unit, including the cells, requires urgent renovation,
▪️ problems
were recorded with the registration of persons deprived of their liberty,
including foreign nationals, in licensed outpatient medical institutions
providing extramural care and services,
▪️
difficulties were recorded in organizing timely and instantly medical
examinations and specialized consultations for persons deprived of their
liberty, including foreign nationals, which in many cases are also due to a
shortage of guards and transport resources,
▪️ a
number of persons deprived of their liberty were actually kept in isolation for
a long time, in violation of the procedure established by law, without making a
decision on keeping them in isolation,
▪️ problems
have been recorded with the implementation of the initial medical examination
of newly admitted detainees to the penitentiary institution. In particular, the
examination continues to be conducted improperly: it remains inadequate and
incomplete, carried out in a room designated for searches within the quarantine
unit, simultaneously with the search procedure and in the presence of
penitentiary officers. Moreover, the mentioned room is not intended and
furnished for medical examination,
▪️ initial
medical examinations were conducted only upon the person’s first admission to
the penitentiary, while in other cases — for example, after being transferred
to court or for procedural actions — persons were not subjected to a medical
examination upon entering the institution,
▪️ expired
medical supplies were found, particularly Hepatitis C rapid test strips,
▪️ the
presence of insects and rodents was recorded in the buildings, including in
cells,
▪️ information
has been received regarding ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty,
which requires an appropriate investigation,
▪️ problems
were recorded concerning the provision of food to persons transferred to court,
▪️ the
number of psychologist positions remains insufficient,
▪ problems
with providing detained foreign nationals with clothing have been recorded,
▪️ problems
have been recorded with providing food in accordance with the religious beliefs
of foreign nationals deprived of their liberty,
▪️ there
is a need to improve the working relations between the medical staff of the
“Center for Penitentiary Medicine” SNCO and the administration of the
penitentiary institution.
The representatives
of the Human Rights Defender discussed the above-mentioned issues with the
administration of the penitentiary institution and the medical staff of the
“Armavir” subdivision of the “Center for Penitentiary Medicine” SNCO.
The
recorded problems will be summarized, and a document reflecting them, along
with recommendations aimed at their resolution, will be submitted to the
competent authorities.
The
Human Rights Defender also emphasizes the importance of issues related to
ensuring proper working conditions for penitentiary employees, which will also
become a special subject of discussion within the framework of communication
with the competent authorities.
Issues
of ensuring rights in places of deprivation of liberty are always under the direct
attention of the Human Rights Defender.
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