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The conditions are satisfactory in the prisons, where the cells had been renovated by inmates, Ophelia Zalyan, a member of Observers group conducting public monitoring of penitentiary Institutions of Armenia told a press conference on Tuesday, saying 103 in total cells were observed.

According to the observation study conducted in 2014-2015, the conditions in the cells throughout penitentiary Institutions were assessed as unsatisfactory in cases representing 6 percent of the observed cells, as emergency - in 2 percent, excellent - in 12 percent, satisfactory – 33 percent and average - in 47 percent of the observed cells.

“During our monitoring we witnessed cases when toilets were out of the cells under bad hygiene conditions which are major source for diarrheal diseases and other infections in summertime,” Zalyan noted, pointing out the abundance of rodents and cockroaches in most of prisons as well.

According to the data, prison overcrowding remains the main problem at penitentiary Institution across the country. According to the results of the study Nubarashen, Kosh, Sevan, Artik, Hrazdan, Vardashen prisons were overcrowded as of 2014.

“In Sevan, Kosh and Artik penitentiaries dozens of prisoners were kept in cells of closed and semi-closed
regime – up to 45 inmates.  In Nubarashen prison 15 prisoners lived in a cell equipped with just 8 beds. We witnessed cases when one of the inmates in overcrowded cell was sleeping on the table, the other one - under the table,” Zalyan informed.

To her, the reason for overcrowding is the arrest as a preventive measure ruled by the courts as well as imprisonment as a measure of punishment.
Deputy Justice Minister Suren Qrmoyan, present at the presentation of the study results, dismissed the claim of overcrowding, saying prisons currently do not face the issue.

“Moreover, the newly-reconstructed Armavir prison has 500 free places, where detainees are expected to be transferred. In general, we may end the prison overcrowding by the end of the year,” Qrmoyan said.