After the statements of being subjected to violence at the “Nubarashen” penitentiary, civil activist Vardges Gaspari officially refuted that he was beaten. Penitentiary Department’s official explanation also reads, “V. Gaspari underwent physical examination by the nurse-on-duty of the Penitentiary and as a result, no trace of bodily injury has been found on him.”
Aravot.am talked to Vardges Gaspari about this and several other issues. We asked Mr. Gaspari whether there are bruises on his body, traces, which will be a proof of the tortures, incidentally, the head of “Nubarashen” Penitentiary, Ruben Stepanyan, said, “If you find a bruise on him, I will answer for it.” In this regard, Vardges Gaspari said, “The violence that they are exercising, they know them very well, they have mastered it in a way and exercise the violence in a way that it does not leave traces, they directly hit the body in the places that leaves no bruises. I’ve been exposed to such violence several times and I know it. For example, it happened specifically to my, they hit my leg above the knee so hard (I feel the pain until now) that there is no so-called bruise and they know it very well.” According to Gaspari, the “Zone” keepers and their subject prisoners are so skilled that they carry out violence that leaves no trace.”
As for the words said by the Head of “Nubarashen” penitentiary, Mr. Gaspari responded as follows: “He is right, there is no bruise but it does not mean that there is no violence. I want to say something else, the violence is not only against me but, I insist, it is used massively in the prison. Along with the physical violence, there is psychological pressure. Half of the prisoners at the “Nubarashen” penitentiary are subject to daily violence. Physical abuse may be less than psychological. There are people who are close to going mad. The fact that the head of the prison makes such an expression, it is the omission of the human rights organizations, which allegedly are carrying out observation mission.”
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To our observation was that it was this very observation group that had visited the imprisoned Gaspari and raised the fact of his being exposed to violence, Vardges Gaspari said, “They are talking about the mass occurrences in their reports in such a way as sporadic cases. The group is inert and has become a part of the administration of the penitentiary and the system of “zone” keepers.” According to Gaspari, the observation group is implementing barely 3-5% of its attributed rights. “To conceal the 95% is a dishonorable task. I was in “Nubarashen” in 2008, I was there also in 2016, not much is changed during these 8 years, the problems have increased multiple times. This is my evaluation.”
Chairman of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, Avetik Ishkhanyan, referring to the violence against Vardges Gaspari, told Aravot.am that the violence could have occurred because Gaspari has voiced the internal, criminal mores of the prison. Whether this is the reason or there is a political context for beating, in answer to our question, Gaspari said, “When they were hitting me, someone in the corridor asked, “so-and-so, is everything normal?” the one beating me said, “yeah, everything is okay.” It has happened to the awareness and consent of the watchers. Then, someone from the neighboring cells asked, “Bro, what is going on there? Is everything normal?” They said, “Everything is agreed with the above.” Above means with the “zone” keepers. They had received an instruction from the “zone” keepers to carry out this violence. Ishkhanyan expressed his concern, I know that he was concerned. I do not think that they would read this book; this book is not particularly widespread. There were more actual issues, especially since Gevorg Safaryan was the precedent.”
As told by Vardges Gaspari, if previously the convicted were treated neutrally in the prison for the political and civil fight, this attitude has been changed for the last few years, “They consider these political and civic people their enemies because we demand a law. For Gevorg Safaryan’s case, they have said, “You have demanded our bros, the people killing Vahe Avetyan at Harsnakar, to judge severely. The oligarchs are helping the “brotherhood” in prison, hence, they have the direct reason to view us as their enemy.”
Nelly BABAYAN
