On February 20 and 22, upon the assignment of the Human Rights Defender, the representatives of the Office paid unannounced visits to Hrazdan, Nubarashen, Vardashen and Prison Hospital Penitentiary Institutions of the Ministry of Justice.
Private interviews were held with persons deprived of liberty, including 6 persons who started hunger strike, their detention conditions, as well as medical documents were examined.
The Defender’s representatives held private interviews with Armen Ter-Sahakyan and Aram Khachikyan, sentenced to life imprisonment, who have started indefinite hunger strike since February 12, as well as with Alik Grigoryan, sentenced to life imprisonment, who has started a hunger strike since February 18, 2019.
A private interview was also held with Karen Hovhannisyan, who have started a hunger strike since February 10, 2019. His claim was connected with the investigation of his criminal case.
According to the medical documents Karen Hovhannisyan has an arterial hypertension, as well as an angina of effort.
There is a note in the medical documents that on 21 February 2019, when health condition of Karen Hovhannisyan had deteriorated an ambulance was called, however the latter refused any medical treatment. Karen Hovhannisyan confirmed this during the private interview. He noted that in case of inpatient treatment he would not be able to participate in the court hearing dated on 22 February 2019 where his measure of restraint should have been discussed. Nevertheless, the Defender sent an official letter to the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice with regard to Karen Hovhannisyan’s medical assistance.
Private interviews were held also with other persons deprived of liberty who are on hunger strike.
Issues related to the health situation of persons who are on hunger strike and their medical supervision were discussed with the administration of the penitentiary institution.
During the visit, private interviews were held with other persons deprived of their liberty as well. The main part of the complaints related to judgements, investigation of criminal cases, medical assistance, early conditional release, application of the Law on Amnesty, contact with the outside world, detention conditions, etc.
Written application-complaints with regard to the part of the raised issues have been submitted to the Defender, and the other part of them have been discussed with the administration of the penitentiary institutions and have been solved on the spot.
Within the Human Rights Defender’s competence, necessary steps prescribed by the law will be undertaken to solve the issues raised by persons deprived of liberty.