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"THREE TIMES CONVICTED AND PUNISHMENT TAKEN OFFICER HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED AS AN OFFICER." ARTUR SAKUNTS
April 7 2014
"The situation in Penitentiary Facility continues to be worse; poor
health conditions, the facilities are overcrowded, and the number
of the personnel is insufficient," this is how the situation in
Penitentiary Facility of Armenia is estimated by the EU's "European
Neighborhood Policy Annual Progress Report for 2013." The report also
contained estimates about the 2013 elections, violence against civil
society activists, and mistreatment of conscripts. With this regard,
in the conversation with Aravot.am, human rights defender, the Head of
the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor office, Artur Sakunts agreed
with the EU estimates pertaining to Penitentiary Facility. He said,
"The funding of this facility is reduced by two times. This means that
the food, medicine, salaries, and living standards have been reduced.
Naturally, we should expect complaints doubled. The person being in
Penitentiary facility does not feel like defended, should he raise
any issue against the staff." Artur Sakunts also stated that this year
several cases of death has been registered in Penitentiary Facilities,
"In 2010, 34 deaths were registered, of which 29 were caused by health
problems. In 2011, 32 deaths, of which 26 were due to health problems.
In 2012, 28 deaths, of which 25 were due to health problems. In 2013,
19 deaths, of which 17 were due to health problems. Mortality is
reduced, but there is a concern that the percentage rate caused by
the health problems is still high." With regard to overloaded of the
staff, according to Artur Sakunts, when several amnesties happened,
nevertheless, it solved the problem with overload temporarily. "The
number of detainees is always available and the problem with overload
remains. There are Judicial Department statistics, pursuant to which,
99 percent of motions on changing the imprisonment to a precautionary
measure are rejected. On the other hand, acquittal verdicts by
the court are quite low. Typically, the charges are considered
well-grounded. It's not the fact that we are all criminals, but simply
the justice is exercised. And it is true because the evidences of
violence are obtained by the police. Overload speaks about the illness
of justice. The Penitentiary Facilities do not have the right to accept
people, if they lack in conditions. The number is fixed. If the state
has no room to keep the criminals, then it should form a queue some
criminals, who had not particularly committed serious crimes. It should
form a queue and tell when to come to take his punishment." The report
indicates, "There is a public anxiety about suspicious deaths in the
Armed Forces under non-combat conditions, as well as concern over the
practice of hazing and other mistreatment of conscripts." As said by
Artur Sakunts, "The cases in which I am involved as a representative
of the victim's successor, I can clearly say that, as a rule, the real
culprits are not disclosed. The participation of commanders in the
cases of deaths does not receive a proper legal estimation; they are
limited only by the reprimand in the result of investigation. Three
times convicted and punishment taken officer has been reappointed as
an officer. As for the medical service, the Ministry of Defense has
to admit that they have at least pneumonia-related problems."
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/04/07/164555/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
April 7 2014
"The situation in Penitentiary Facility continues to be worse; poor
health conditions, the facilities are overcrowded, and the number
of the personnel is insufficient," this is how the situation in
Penitentiary Facility of Armenia is estimated by the EU's "European
Neighborhood Policy Annual Progress Report for 2013." The report also
contained estimates about the 2013 elections, violence against civil
society activists, and mistreatment of conscripts. With this regard,
in the conversation with Aravot.am, human rights defender, the Head of
the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor office, Artur Sakunts agreed
with the EU estimates pertaining to Penitentiary Facility. He said,
"The funding of this facility is reduced by two times. This means that
the food, medicine, salaries, and living standards have been reduced.
Naturally, we should expect complaints doubled. The person being in
Penitentiary facility does not feel like defended, should he raise
any issue against the staff." Artur Sakunts also stated that this year
several cases of death has been registered in Penitentiary Facilities,
"In 2010, 34 deaths were registered, of which 29 were caused by health
problems. In 2011, 32 deaths, of which 26 were due to health problems.
In 2012, 28 deaths, of which 25 were due to health problems. In 2013,
19 deaths, of which 17 were due to health problems. Mortality is
reduced, but there is a concern that the percentage rate caused by
the health problems is still high." With regard to overloaded of the
staff, according to Artur Sakunts, when several amnesties happened,
nevertheless, it solved the problem with overload temporarily. "The
number of detainees is always available and the problem with overload
remains. There are Judicial Department statistics, pursuant to which,
99 percent of motions on changing the imprisonment to a precautionary
measure are rejected. On the other hand, acquittal verdicts by
the court are quite low. Typically, the charges are considered
well-grounded. It's not the fact that we are all criminals, but simply
the justice is exercised. And it is true because the evidences of
violence are obtained by the police. Overload speaks about the illness
of justice. The Penitentiary Facilities do not have the right to accept
people, if they lack in conditions. The number is fixed. If the state
has no room to keep the criminals, then it should form a queue some
criminals, who had not particularly committed serious crimes. It should
form a queue and tell when to come to take his punishment." The report
indicates, "There is a public anxiety about suspicious deaths in the
Armed Forces under non-combat conditions, as well as concern over the
practice of hazing and other mistreatment of conscripts." As said by
Artur Sakunts, "The cases in which I am involved as a representative
of the victim's successor, I can clearly say that, as a rule, the real
culprits are not disclosed. The participation of commanders in the
cases of deaths does not receive a proper legal estimation; they are
limited only by the reprimand in the result of investigation. Three
times convicted and punishment taken officer has been reappointed as
an officer. As for the medical service, the Ministry of Defense has
to admit that they have at least pneumonia-related problems."
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2014/04/07/164555/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress