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Positive changes were revealed in penitentiary institutions during visits, but there are also many shortcomings in this system, which the Justice Minister will also admit, chair of NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights Elinar Vardanyan stated at the beginning of parliamentary hearings on the condition of human rights in penitentiary institutions and places of detention. 

According to Armenian Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan, penitentiary institutions face a host of challenges, they bear the negative imprint of Soviet penal system, and he said it as early as several years ago when he assumed the position of Justice Minister. Mr Tovmasyan said that he is well aware of the situation, problems and shortcomings, but stressed that “I am not going to offer superficial solutions, I stand for long-range solution of problems existing in this field.”

No murder has been recorded in Armenian penitentiary institutions over the past 3-4 years, noted the Minister. Yes, inmates are unhappy with the prison conditions and the prison administration’s attitude. However, no penitentiary institution in the world is free of these problems, said Mr Tovmasyan, adding that they work normally, the evidence of which is that this year alone, 2607 cutting and stabbing instruments were seized from inmates.

“We have 13 penitentiary institutions where about 5,000 inmates are held. Each inmate costs an average of about $3,000 a year, which is allocated from the state budget,” said the Minister.

One of our urgent problems, overloading of penitentiary institutions, will be solved partially next September by the construction of Armavir penitentiary institution designed to hold 400 inmates, noted Mr Tovmasyan.

Among the problems is also cadre training, in particular the lack of penitentiary doctors, he concluded.