Armenian prisons are overcrowded

Currently, Armenian penitentiary institutions (PIs) are severely overcrowded, which leads to deterioration of custody conditions and increase of death rate there, human rights defenders and politicians of Armenia assert.

As announced on April 14 at the National Assembly of Armenia by Larissa Alaverdyan, former Ombudsperson in Armenia, in 2010 the number of deaths in PIs went up by 2.5 as compared with 2009.

The data about the growth of deaths in Armenian PIs and overcrowded prisons was confirmed by Grair Tovmasyan, the Minister of Justice.

According to his story, the growth of deaths is caused by the fact that inmates receive drugs containing benzene and other substances, which lead to deaths. He assured that each such case is thoroughly investigated.

Mr Tovmasyan has added that during the last year four suicides were registered in Armenian prisons; and in all cases the suicides left letters asking not to blame anyone for their deaths. The minister assured that in the past three years no murders have been committed at the Armenian PIs.

He said that many deaths result from intractable diseases. In this regard, according to his story, the Ministry of Justice is taking steps aimed at improving the custody conditions. In particular, the hospital at the PI "Nubarashen" is re-equipped; negotiations are on with a number of funds about supply of medicines and medical equipment.

The minister disclosed plans to build a colony for 400 inmates in Armavir. Construction of a colony in Yerevan is discussed, which will allow to unload the PI "Nubarashen".

"I think that the PI 'Nubarashen' must be closed since it does not meet modern criteria," said Grair Tovmasyan.

Mikael Danielyan, a human rights activist and Chairman of the Helsinki Association, has confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent bad custody conditions at the PI "Nubarashen" and the fact that this prison fails to meet sanitary standards. In particular, according to his story, cells keep twice as many inmates as required by appropriate standards.