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Report on tortures in Armenia
20:12 | January 27,2015 | Politics
Anti-torture Committee reveals police ill-treatment in Armenia, little
progress on situation of life-imprisoned
Strasbourg, 27 January 2015 - The Council of Europe's Committee for
the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CPT) published today its reports on the last two ad hoc
visits to Armenia, carried out in April 2013 and May 2014, together
with the responses of the Armenian authorities.
The April 2013 visit followed the emergence of reports outlining
persisting problems in the police treatment of persons deprived of
their liberty. The CPT's delegation received many allegations from
detained persons that they had been subjected to physical or
psychological ill-treatment and excessive use of force by police
officers at the time of apprehension and during the subsequent
questioning; and received threats of repercussions for family members.
Sometimes the ill-treatment alleged was of such a severity that it
could be considered to amount to torture (e.g. extensive beatings;
infliction of electric shocks; simulated asphyxiation with a gas mask;
blows to the soles of the feet). The medical examination and the
consultation of medical files revealed injuries consistent with the
allegations made.
While acknowledging the Armenian authorities' efforts to improve the
system of handling police ill-treatment cases and welcoming the
creation of the independent Special Investigation Service, the CPT
revealed flaws in the current system of documenting and investigating
such complaints. The CPT made specific recommendations on improving
the procedures for reporting injuries, and processing potential cases
of by prosecutors.
In their response, the Armenian authorities indicate that new
guidelines have been issued and that the training of police officers
has been enhanced to prevent instances of police ill-treatment.
The CPT also visited the Kentron Prison in Yerevan, and was seriously
concerned that hardly any of the recommendations made after previous
visits have been implemented as regards the situation of two
life-sentenced prisoners kept there. They have been continuously held
in solitary confinement for 13 years, without being offered any
out-of-cell activity other than outdoor exercise for one hour per day.
The conditions under which the two prisoners were being held could be
considered as amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment; given that
neither of them was receiving adequate psychiatric treatment, even
though they both suffered from severe mental disorders.
The CPT visited this prison again in May 2014, and registered certain
improvements in psychiatric care of the two prisoners. This, as well
as the intention of the Armenian authorities to amend the Penitentiary
Code to abolish the segregating life-sentenced prisoners from other
prisoners, was welcomed by the Committee. However, the situation with
regard to the detention regime of the two prisoners, restrictions on
contact with the outside world and the systematic use of handcuffs
remained largely unchanged at the time of the report.
The visit also covered Nubarashen prison in Yerevan. In both
establishments, the delegation received hardly any allegation of
physical ill-treatment from prisoners.
In their response, the Armenian authorities provide further
information on the draft legislation intended to significantly improve
the situation of life-sentenced prisoners and to facilitate the
granting of conditional release for them. In addition, the authorities
indicate that additional steps have been taken to provide the two
above-mentioned prisoners with adequate health care and more
out-of-cell activities.
http://www.cpt.coe.int/en/states/arm.htm
http://en.a1plus.am/1204795.html
20:12 | January 27,2015 | Politics
Anti-torture Committee reveals police ill-treatment in Armenia, little
progress on situation of life-imprisoned
Strasbourg, 27 January 2015 - The Council of Europe's Committee for
the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CPT) published today its reports on the last two ad hoc
visits to Armenia, carried out in April 2013 and May 2014, together
with the responses of the Armenian authorities.
The April 2013 visit followed the emergence of reports outlining
persisting problems in the police treatment of persons deprived of
their liberty. The CPT's delegation received many allegations from
detained persons that they had been subjected to physical or
psychological ill-treatment and excessive use of force by police
officers at the time of apprehension and during the subsequent
questioning; and received threats of repercussions for family members.
Sometimes the ill-treatment alleged was of such a severity that it
could be considered to amount to torture (e.g. extensive beatings;
infliction of electric shocks; simulated asphyxiation with a gas mask;
blows to the soles of the feet). The medical examination and the
consultation of medical files revealed injuries consistent with the
allegations made.
While acknowledging the Armenian authorities' efforts to improve the
system of handling police ill-treatment cases and welcoming the
creation of the independent Special Investigation Service, the CPT
revealed flaws in the current system of documenting and investigating
such complaints. The CPT made specific recommendations on improving
the procedures for reporting injuries, and processing potential cases
of by prosecutors.
In their response, the Armenian authorities indicate that new
guidelines have been issued and that the training of police officers
has been enhanced to prevent instances of police ill-treatment.
The CPT also visited the Kentron Prison in Yerevan, and was seriously
concerned that hardly any of the recommendations made after previous
visits have been implemented as regards the situation of two
life-sentenced prisoners kept there. They have been continuously held
in solitary confinement for 13 years, without being offered any
out-of-cell activity other than outdoor exercise for one hour per day.
The conditions under which the two prisoners were being held could be
considered as amounting to inhuman and degrading treatment; given that
neither of them was receiving adequate psychiatric treatment, even
though they both suffered from severe mental disorders.
The CPT visited this prison again in May 2014, and registered certain
improvements in psychiatric care of the two prisoners. This, as well
as the intention of the Armenian authorities to amend the Penitentiary
Code to abolish the segregating life-sentenced prisoners from other
prisoners, was welcomed by the Committee. However, the situation with
regard to the detention regime of the two prisoners, restrictions on
contact with the outside world and the systematic use of handcuffs
remained largely unchanged at the time of the report.
The visit also covered Nubarashen prison in Yerevan. In both
establishments, the delegation received hardly any allegation of
physical ill-treatment from prisoners.
In their response, the Armenian authorities provide further
information on the draft legislation intended to significantly improve
the situation of life-sentenced prisoners and to facilitate the
granting of conditional release for them. In addition, the authorities
indicate that additional steps have been taken to provide the two
above-mentioned prisoners with adequate health care and more
out-of-cell activities.
http://www.cpt.coe.int/en/states/arm.htm
http://en.a1plus.am/1204795.html