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OMBUDSMAN CONDEMNS JUSTICE MINISTRY ON SLOW ACTION ON REMOVING BAN ON ATTORNEYS VISITING PRISONERS
07.07.2014 17:16 epress.am
Due to the fault of the Ministry of Justice, prisoners in Armenia
cannot meet with attorneys on non-working days and outside of work
hours, which is a gross violation of the law, said Armenian Ombudsman
Karen Andreasyan in a statement issued today. This statement came
about after the Ombudsman's office discovered violations as a result
of a complaint submitted by Helsinki Association for Human Rights
attorney Arayik Papikyan.
Recall, Papikyan went to visit his client, Karen Kungortsev,
at Vanadzor Penitentiary on March 29, 2014, which was a Saturday;
however, prison administration forbid the meeting, referring to a
government decision, according to which visits with prisoners are
allowed only on work days between 10 am and 5 pm.
In a letter dated May 19 to Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan,
the Ombudsman proposed he take measures to fully restore the right
for attorneys and prisoners to meet and to have prison regulations
comply with legislative requirements. A study on such legal violations
in international practice was conducted and the findings sent to the
justice minister.
"Unfortunately, to this day appropriate measures have not been taken
and the apparent legislative contradiction has not been eliminated.
Such slowness on the part of the Ministry of Justice in the case of
such obvious legislative contradiction and widespread violation of
rights is questionable," reads the Ombudsman's statement.
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/07/07/ombudsman-condemns-justice-ministry-on-slow-action-on-removing-ban-on-attorneys-visiting-prisoners.html
From: Baghdasarian
07.07.2014 17:16 epress.am
Due to the fault of the Ministry of Justice, prisoners in Armenia
cannot meet with attorneys on non-working days and outside of work
hours, which is a gross violation of the law, said Armenian Ombudsman
Karen Andreasyan in a statement issued today. This statement came
about after the Ombudsman's office discovered violations as a result
of a complaint submitted by Helsinki Association for Human Rights
attorney Arayik Papikyan.
Recall, Papikyan went to visit his client, Karen Kungortsev,
at Vanadzor Penitentiary on March 29, 2014, which was a Saturday;
however, prison administration forbid the meeting, referring to a
government decision, according to which visits with prisoners are
allowed only on work days between 10 am and 5 pm.
In a letter dated May 19 to Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan,
the Ombudsman proposed he take measures to fully restore the right
for attorneys and prisoners to meet and to have prison regulations
comply with legislative requirements. A study on such legal violations
in international practice was conducted and the findings sent to the
justice minister.
"Unfortunately, to this day appropriate measures have not been taken
and the apparent legislative contradiction has not been eliminated.
Such slowness on the part of the Ministry of Justice in the case of
such obvious legislative contradiction and widespread violation of
rights is questionable," reads the Ombudsman's statement.
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/07/07/ombudsman-condemns-justice-ministry-on-slow-action-on-removing-ban-on-attorneys-visiting-prisoners.html
From: Baghdasarian