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LETTERS FROM PRISON: CONFESSIONS OBTAINED BY TORTURE AND OTHER STORIES
03.04.2014 18:40 epress.am
In 2013, the Yerevan-based Helsinki Association for Human Rights
received around three dozen letters from prisoners in Armenian prisons,
the majority of which related to parole. Prisoners also complained
about the lack of adequate medical services.
There are prisoners who were intimidated and tortured by police to
confess to the crime of which they're accused. They ask the human
rights organization for help to appeal to the European Court of Human
Rights and to send an observer to record the procedural violations
that occurred during their trial.
Excerpts from some of the letters are presented below.
Norik Margaryan, Nubarashen Penitentiary
"I said that I stole a pig, but I'm not aware of other thefts,
but Paylak began to hit me. I, fearing for my health, because I
have small children at home (a 4 and a 5.5 year-old) and I have to
support them, I wrote my testimony as dictated by the oper[ator]
and the investigator. They kept me in the 'monkey cage' the entire
night. In the morning my wife came and saw me beaten up, then they
took me to the medical examiner; the investigator told me to tell
the doctor I got these bruises at home, and that's what I did.
"Now I'm on hunger strike. I wrote a complaint to the General
Prosecutor three months ago. I got the answer, that the investigator
for special affairs had written that I'm lying. I had sent them a
disc on which it clearly shows that at the division I have no injury
on my face. The investigator forged the documents, that supposedly
I was caught [already] beaten up and he didn't consider any facts."
Tavros Voskanyan, Nubarashen Penitentiary
"I want to say with full responsibility that the metal rods have
long been in my stomach, are not coming out through natural means,
and I have constant severe pain; I can't eat normally; my weight
has dropped from 59 kg to 54 kg; I've acquired a chronic digestive
disorder. Let me note that I've written to the court investigating
my case about all of this, saying that I'm ill and for this reason
I can't participate in the trials and especially to defend myself,
since I can't concentrate because of the pain. Please help me and
intervene, so that they move me to the Hospital for Detainees for
in-patient treatment."
Armen Kabalyan, Nubarashen Penitentiary
"On Oct. 1, 2013, with the criminal case launched against me in the
past, which likewise was repeatedly postponed, I was sentenced to 9
years in prison, not taking into account the important and existing
circumstances, which are tied to the preliminary investigation
bodies -- with the records forged by the investigator and replacing
the physical evidence of the knife with another knife. I submitted a
petition on this matter, to appoint an examination of the handwriting
and call an expert, but the court refused, saying I appeal to the
Special Investigative Service. I did appeal to the SIS and the General
Prosecutor, presenting even the forged documents. I got an answer:
'We haven't received such a decision from the court. For this reason,
the appeal is being sent to the court'."
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/03/04/letters-from-prison-confessions-obtained-by-torture-and-other-stories.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
03.04.2014 18:40 epress.am
In 2013, the Yerevan-based Helsinki Association for Human Rights
received around three dozen letters from prisoners in Armenian prisons,
the majority of which related to parole. Prisoners also complained
about the lack of adequate medical services.
There are prisoners who were intimidated and tortured by police to
confess to the crime of which they're accused. They ask the human
rights organization for help to appeal to the European Court of Human
Rights and to send an observer to record the procedural violations
that occurred during their trial.
Excerpts from some of the letters are presented below.
Norik Margaryan, Nubarashen Penitentiary
"I said that I stole a pig, but I'm not aware of other thefts,
but Paylak began to hit me. I, fearing for my health, because I
have small children at home (a 4 and a 5.5 year-old) and I have to
support them, I wrote my testimony as dictated by the oper[ator]
and the investigator. They kept me in the 'monkey cage' the entire
night. In the morning my wife came and saw me beaten up, then they
took me to the medical examiner; the investigator told me to tell
the doctor I got these bruises at home, and that's what I did.
"Now I'm on hunger strike. I wrote a complaint to the General
Prosecutor three months ago. I got the answer, that the investigator
for special affairs had written that I'm lying. I had sent them a
disc on which it clearly shows that at the division I have no injury
on my face. The investigator forged the documents, that supposedly
I was caught [already] beaten up and he didn't consider any facts."
Tavros Voskanyan, Nubarashen Penitentiary
"I want to say with full responsibility that the metal rods have
long been in my stomach, are not coming out through natural means,
and I have constant severe pain; I can't eat normally; my weight
has dropped from 59 kg to 54 kg; I've acquired a chronic digestive
disorder. Let me note that I've written to the court investigating
my case about all of this, saying that I'm ill and for this reason
I can't participate in the trials and especially to defend myself,
since I can't concentrate because of the pain. Please help me and
intervene, so that they move me to the Hospital for Detainees for
in-patient treatment."
Armen Kabalyan, Nubarashen Penitentiary
"On Oct. 1, 2013, with the criminal case launched against me in the
past, which likewise was repeatedly postponed, I was sentenced to 9
years in prison, not taking into account the important and existing
circumstances, which are tied to the preliminary investigation
bodies -- with the records forged by the investigator and replacing
the physical evidence of the knife with another knife. I submitted a
petition on this matter, to appoint an examination of the handwriting
and call an expert, but the court refused, saying I appeal to the
Special Investigative Service. I did appeal to the SIS and the General
Prosecutor, presenting even the forged documents. I got an answer:
'We haven't received such a decision from the court. For this reason,
the appeal is being sent to the court'."
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/03/04/letters-from-prison-confessions-obtained-by-torture-and-other-stories.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress