“The situation in Penitentiary Facility continues to be worse; poor health conditions, the facilities are overcrowded, and the number of the personnel is insufficient,” this is how the situation in Penitentiary Facility of Armenia is estimated by the EU’s “European Neighborhood Policy Annual Progress Report for 2013.” The report also contained estimates about the 2013 elections, violence against civil society activists, and mistreatment of conscripts. With this regard, in the conversation with Aravot.am, human rights defender, the Head of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office, Artur Sakunts agreed with the EU estimates pertaining to Penitentiary Facility. He said, “The funding of this facility is reduced by two times. This means that the food, medicine, salaries, and living standards have been reduced. Naturally, we should expect complaints doubled. The person being in Penitentiary facility does not feel like defended, should he raise any issue against the staff.” Artur Sakunts also stated that this year several cases of death has been registered in Penitentiary Facilities, “In 2010, 34 deaths were registered, of which 29 were caused by health problems. In 2011, 32 deaths, of which 26 were due to health problems. In 2012, 28 deaths, of which 25 were due to health problems. In 2013, 19 deaths, of which 17 were due to health problems. Mortality is reduced, but there is a concern that the percentage rate caused by the health problems is still high.” With regard to overloaded of the staff, according to Artur Sakunts, when several amnesties happened, nevertheless, it solved the problem with overload temporarily. “The number of detainees is always available and the problem with overload remains. There are Judicial Department statistics, pursuant to which, 99 percent of motions on changing the imprisonment to a precautionary measure are rejected. On the other hand, acquittal verdicts by the court are quite low. Typically, the charges are considered well-grounded. It’s not the fact that we are all criminals, but simply the justice is exercised. And it is true because the evidences of violence are obtained by the police. Overload speaks about the illness of justice. The Penitentiary Facilities do not have the right to accept people, if they lack in conditions. The number is fixed. If the state has no room to keep the criminals, then it should form a queue some criminals, who had not particularly committed serious crimes. It should form a queue and tell when to come to take his punishment.” The report indicates, “There is a public anxiety about suspicious deaths in the Armed Forces under non-combat conditions, as well as concern over the practice of hazing and other mistreatment of conscripts.” As said by Artur Sakunts, “The cases in which I am involved as a representative of the victim’s successor, I can clearly say that, as a rule, the real culprits are not disclosed. The participation of commanders in the cases of deaths does not receive a proper legal estimation; they are limited only by the reprimand in the result of investigation. Three times convicted and punishment taken officer has been reappointed as an officer. As for the medical service, the Ministry of Defense has to admit that they have at least pneumonia-related problems.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
