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OVERCROWDING REMAINS PROBLEM IN ARMENIA'S PRISONS
13:43 * 22.12.14
Overcrowding continues to remain a major problem in Armenia's
penitentiary institutions, an oversight group has revealed.
A public initiative conducting monitoring of correctional facilities
has found that inmates are often subjected to physical violence
in prisons.
In a report, it says that the overcrowding problem has been mitigated
to an extent but not yet been completely overcome.
At a news conference on Monday, Larisa Minasyan, Executive Director of
Open Society Institute-Armenia, stressed the importance of transparency
and awareness as the first step toward reaching a solution to the
existing problems.
An expert of the group, Robert Revazyan, said the available information
reveals that hierarchic relations dominate penitentiaries, with
convicts often remaining silent on the situation.
"Homosexuals, who remain on the lowest level of the hierarchy, can
be considered the most vulnerable group in penitentiary institutions.
They inhabit in isolation from other convicts, having their dish,
belongings and other things held in separation. Nobody communicates
with them. But kingpins' cells, unlike them, differ with their
conditions," the expert said, expressing concerns also of the gambling
games which he said are very widespread in prisons.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/22/kqv/1542973
13:43 * 22.12.14
Overcrowding continues to remain a major problem in Armenia's
penitentiary institutions, an oversight group has revealed.
A public initiative conducting monitoring of correctional facilities
has found that inmates are often subjected to physical violence
in prisons.
In a report, it says that the overcrowding problem has been mitigated
to an extent but not yet been completely overcome.
At a news conference on Monday, Larisa Minasyan, Executive Director of
Open Society Institute-Armenia, stressed the importance of transparency
and awareness as the first step toward reaching a solution to the
existing problems.
An expert of the group, Robert Revazyan, said the available information
reveals that hierarchic relations dominate penitentiaries, with
convicts often remaining silent on the situation.
"Homosexuals, who remain on the lowest level of the hierarchy, can
be considered the most vulnerable group in penitentiary institutions.
They inhabit in isolation from other convicts, having their dish,
belongings and other things held in separation. Nobody communicates
with them. But kingpins' cells, unlike them, differ with their
conditions," the expert said, expressing concerns also of the gambling
games which he said are very widespread in prisons.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/22/kqv/1542973