“Overcrowding causes inmates tohave to take turns to sleep”

“As a result of the general amnesty, there will be a slight improvement of the overcrowding situation at detention facilities, but the state of overcrowding still remains”, stated Artur Sakunts, head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly- Vanadzor during a meeting with the journalists.

The human rights defender believes that apart from the overcrowding issue, there are also serious issues regarding the health state of the inmates as the death rates have increased. The statistics testify to this fact. In 2009, there were 7 inmates who died at detention facilities and in 2010 the number increased by 28 death cases for a total number of 35. Sakunts attributes the dramatic rise of death cases to overcrowding and inadequate air conditioning.

Speaking of Vanadzor resident Slavik Voskanyan’s death, Sakunts noted that the criminal case has already been filed and the preliminary medical forensic examination revealed that adequate medical intervention could have saved the inmate’s life. The human rights activist attributed the next issue to the right of correspondence with outside world, specifically, to making phone calls. However, it turns out that the inmates are not really detached from the outside world as they use cell phones as a means of communication, which actually is prohibited by law.

Artur Sakunts stated that most often the inmates make calls from their cell phones, and their existence, according to him, speaks of the lack of adequate control by the detention administration. In both of the cases, Artur Sakunts blames the detention facilities.

 By his words, detention facilities were integrated under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Justice, which was a serious amendment, but during the last 3 years, the aggravating conditions at detention facilities casts doubt over the amendment. Arsen Babayan, head of the Detention Facility Administration Department of Public Relations agrees partially with the observations of Sakunts. Babayan accepts that the fact that overcrowding exists in 3 of the detention facilities, but he believes that the situation is exaggerated, for instance, because the inmates take turns to sleep. “We do not have such an issue”, assures the head of Detention Facility Administration Department of Public Relations Sakunts has quite a different opinion. As an example he brings “Nubarashen” Penitentiary, where 200 inmates, exceeding the normal number, are detained.According to Arsen Babayan, the issue of overcrowding will be resolved because of the construction of a new penitentiary in Armavir; however, the construction activities had been suspended due to lack of financial resources, but they have since been resumed this year. He also claims that until the present time they had not received any complaints regarding phone calls and strolling from the inmates and their relatives.  Babayan assures that the health condition of the inmates is not neglected by the detention facility administration. The increase of death rates, according to him, is conditioned by cardiac arrests and suicides. Babayan also denied that the inmates used petrol as drugs.

“If not 100% then 98-99% out of all inmates for sure do not use petrol”, noted Babayan. In spite of everything, Sakunts continues to be discontent and reassure that the number of unresolved issues has increased within the last 3 years. The state of overcrowding is so concerning that Sakunts suggests that a person, that has committed a minor crime based on Court’s decision, be placed at a detention facility only in case “a new place vacates”.

It should be noted that there are approximately 5100 inmates at detention facilities, over 140 out of which are women, 17 are minors, while, 25 adults are currently in preliminary custody.

www.report.am