Violations Found in Artik Penitentiary

The division of the Human Rights Defender’s Office that carries out the functions of the national preventive mechanism, along with national preventive mechanism experts, has prepared a detailed analysis concerning the issues identified during a monitoring visit to the Ministry of Justice's Artik penitentiary.

A number of fundamental problems have been recorded. In particular, there is a significant disproportion between the number of penitentiary staff and the number of incarcerated individuals, the conditions of detention are severely inadequate, there are issues related to the organization of bathing, necessary renovations and cleaning works are needed, the toilets in the punishment cells are not entirely separated from the residential areas by full walls and lack doors, there are problems with providing bedding to incarcerated individuals held in quarantine sections, there are no accommodations for individuals with mobility issues in the penitentiary, and the quantitative and qualitative standards for the food provided to those deprived of liberty are not being met.

Additionally, there are problems related to the organization of medical assistance (for example, the required medications are available in insufficient quantities and types, expired medications have been recorded, medical examinations are not organized properly and timely, there are issues regarding the confidentiality of medical information, initial medical examinations are poorly organized, and medical staff are overstressed, etc.).

It is essential to expand the mechanisms encouraging contact between incarcerated individuals and the outside world, and there is a lack of periodic and comprehensive measures for the resocialization and reintegration of prisoners into society.

The document highlighting the aforementioned problems, along with proposed solutions, has been presented to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and the Penitentiary Service, expressing readiness to discuss the raised issues and support their resolution.

At the same time, the Defender emphasized the importance of improving the working conditions of penitentiary staff from the perspective of the entire human rights protection system.