Tweet
Penitentiary institutions overcrowded
Lusine Vasilyan
"Radiolur"
02.06.2011 17:10
About 400 prisoners will be released under the amnesty announced on
the occasion of the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic
of Armenia. The term of imprisonment of another 400 will be cut, Head
of the Public Relations Division of the Penitentiary Department at
the RA Ministry of Justice Arsen Babayan told a press conference today.
Arsen Babayan and Arthur Sakunts, head of the Vanadzor Office of the
Helsinki Association, discussed the situation in penitentiaries.
NGOs conducting studies in penitentiary institutions and observer
group have been speaking much about overcrowded prisons. Head of the
observation group Arthur Sakunts says the issue will be partially
solved as a result of the amnesty.
According to him, it's hard to maintain the health norms in overcrowded
cells. He says 35 death cases were registered in penitentiary
institutions in 2010, which considerably exceeds the figures of the
previous year.
According to Arsen Babayan, the situation is the worst in "Nubarashen,"
where 1 400 prisoners are kept in cells meant for 1 200 people. The
Ministry of Justice suggests building new jails to solve the situation.
Arsen Babayan informed that there are currently 5 100 prisoners in
Armenia, 140 of them are female. 17 are minors. The number of life
sentenced reaches 100.
Lusine Vasilyan
"Radiolur"
02.06.2011 17:10
About 400 prisoners will be released under the amnesty announced on
the occasion of the 20th anniversary of independence of the Republic
of Armenia. The term of imprisonment of another 400 will be cut, Head
of the Public Relations Division of the Penitentiary Department at
the RA Ministry of Justice Arsen Babayan told a press conference today.
Arsen Babayan and Arthur Sakunts, head of the Vanadzor Office of the
Helsinki Association, discussed the situation in penitentiaries.
NGOs conducting studies in penitentiary institutions and observer
group have been speaking much about overcrowded prisons. Head of the
observation group Arthur Sakunts says the issue will be partially
solved as a result of the amnesty.
According to him, it's hard to maintain the health norms in overcrowded
cells. He says 35 death cases were registered in penitentiary
institutions in 2010, which considerably exceeds the figures of the
previous year.
According to Arsen Babayan, the situation is the worst in "Nubarashen,"
where 1 400 prisoners are kept in cells meant for 1 200 people. The
Ministry of Justice suggests building new jails to solve the situation.
Arsen Babayan informed that there are currently 5 100 prisoners in
Armenia, 140 of them are female. 17 are minors. The number of life
sentenced reaches 100.