During
2025, the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, as the National
Preventive Mechanism (NPM), continued to carry out active and consistent
efforts aimed at preventing torture and ill-treatment.
Within
the framework of monitoring activities, unannounced visits were conducted to
the residences of the General Court of First Instance of Shirak Province in
Gyumri and Maralik, the General Court of First Instance of Armavir Province in
Echmiadzin and Armavir as well as the General Court of First Instance of Tavush
Province in Ijevan, Berd and Noyemberyan.
During
the monitoring visits, the conditions of temporary detention of persons
deprived of their liberty in the courts, the furnishing of cells, the sanitary
and hygienic condition, the provision of food and access to legal assistance
for persons deprived of their liberty as well as other issues related to the
exercise of their rights were examined.
Despite
some positive developments recorded as a result of renovations in court
buildings, systemic problems persist in the sector. As a result of the
monitoring, the following problems were recorded:
▪️ the
legislation does not properly regulate the issues related to the placement and
adequate conditions of persons deprived of their liberty in court cells,
including the provision of food and medical care safeguarding their health,
ensuring their security in court building and related issues,
▪️ the
entrances to court buildings, cells, sanitary facilities as well as the stairs
leading from the cells to the courtroom are not adapted to the needs of persons
with mobility difficulties,
▪️ sanitary
facilities in court cells are not fully separated from the living area by
complete walls and are not equipped with doors,
▪️ court
cells lack appropriate conditions for food intake, including tables, utensils
and drinking cups,
▪️ in
some cases, cells require renovation and cleaning,
▪️ certain
cells lack basic hygiene items (toilet paper, soap) and waste bins,
▪️ issues
related to the provision of food to persons deprived of their liberty
transported to courts remain problematic: the food is not provided either when
they are transported from penitentiary institutions or from detention
facilities to the court.
▪️ the
legislation does not define procedures for accepting parcels from persons held
in court cells, and court buildings are not equipped with technical devices for
inspecting such parcels,
▪️ there
are no special separate areas in court buildings for confidential private
interviews between lawyers and persons deprived of their liberty.
Based
on the comparison and analysis of information received as a result of
monitoring visits, it is evident that some of the problems recorded by the
Human Rights Defender, as the NPM, for years continue to not receive a
comprehensive solution, which in some cases leads to problems related to
ensuring the fundamental rights of persons deprived of their liberty.
Legislative
gaps in the field and the lack of clear procedural mechanisms continue to lead
to various violations of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty, which
is recorded in the reports of the Human Rights Defender.
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