Neurosurgeons Refuse to Examine Inmate Held at "Yerevan-Center" Penitentiary

For several days now, neurosurgeons from various medical centers in Yerevan have been refusing to come and examine inmate Razmik Sahakyan, who is being held at the "Yerevan-Center" penitentiary. This was reported to NEWS.am by the inmate's lawyer Arsen Mkrtchyan, who noted that this is the first time he is encountering such an issue.

Sahakyan has been in detention for three months on charges of illegally distributing narcotics and has serious health problems. Considering that the inmate needs a neurosurgeon and there is no such specialist in the "Yerevan-Center" penitentiary, his lawyer turned to well-known neurosurgeons in the country about ten days ago. Mkrtchyan stated that initially, the doctors agreed to come and examine the inmate but later refused after speaking with the hospital administration.

“In the past, we would inform the penitentiary staff in advance that our preferred doctor would come and examine the patient. We had such an experience with Manvel Grigoryan when we invited doctors from other hospitals; however, for the past ten days, the doctors have been refusing to come to the "Yerevan-Center" penitentiary and examine my client without any justification. A few days ago, we contacted the head of the neurosurgery department at Armenia Medical Center, David Patrikyan, who had expressed willingness to examine the inmate, but when we were to present a referral at the penitentiary, he backed out at the last minute,” said the lawyer, expressing frustration that even on a paid basis it is currently impossible to arrange an examination for his client.

The lawyer indicated that the issue is not related to the management of the correctional facility. He suspects that the instruction may have come down from the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Health. “In fact, my client’s right to receive proper medical assistance has been violated for already ten days,” said Mkrtchyan.

We tried to obtain clarification from David Patrikyan, the head of the neurosurgery department at Armenia Medical Center, regarding the issue, but upon hearing the question, he stated that he does not respond to such questions over the phone.