11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Prison conditions remained poor and threatened inmates' health ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22949]

"Prison conditions remained poor and threatened inmates' health, although the Civil Society Monitoring Board (CSMB), an organization established by government initiative involving prison monitoring by NGO personnel, reported some improvements as authorities began to renovate old prisons. Cells were overcrowded, inmates lacked basic hygiene supplies, and food quality remained poor. The CSMB reported that prisoners were at high risk of contracting tuberculosis, and adolescents held in juvenile facilities rarely received the schooling required by law. The CSMB reported other chronic problems, including denial of visitor privileges, medical neglect, and in some cases, physical abuse."

Document(s): Open document

01.04.2005 - Source: Norwegian Helsinki Committee

Imprisonment: Lack of staff, specialists, equipment and pharmacy in medical units ("Prison Conditions in Armenia") [#38598],  [ID 3030]

"Medical care. All institutions visited have a medical unit consisting of a medical office and a doctor. The medical units are understaffed and lack specialists that could deal with the particular needs of prisoners. The medical units also lack equipment and pharmacy. For example, in the Sevan Criminal Executive Institution the limited range of medicines was too old by several years.

The Hospital for Prisoners in Yerevan is under reconstruction, and existing buildings are being upgraded. In addition, facilities for visits are under construction. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has recently erected a new and modern building for tuberculosis patients, where these receive adequate treatment. However, women and juvenile prisoners are not included, because of absence of adequate premises.

Only few cases of HIV have been detected in Armenian prisons and detention centres, whereof one in Nubarashen. However, inmates are not systematically tested."

Document(s): Open document

01.04.2005 - Source: Norwegian Helsinki Committee

Pre-trial detention: Special tuberculosis unit operational; many diseases still remain untreated ("Prison Conditions in Armenia") [#38598],  [ID 3031]

"Medical care. There has been some progress in providing medical care to prisoners. Among other things, a special tuberculosis unit was operational in October 2002. In Nubarashen Criminal Executive Institution, which is the largest pre-trial detention centre in Armenia with 607 inmates at the time of visit, there were 33 prisoners suffering from serious infections, 6 prisoners suffering from tuberculosis, two prisoners are HIV+ and 26 prisoners suffer from other diseases.

Despite progress, many diseases still remain untreated. We met one HIV+ prisoner. Although medicine now exists that could dramatically improve his condition, he complained that he was receiving nothing except vitamins. “I am left here to die”, he said. Prison authorities admitted that they do not provide any treatment for HIV positive prisoners."

Document(s): Open document

08.05.2003 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Tuberculosis and AIDS in Armenian prisons ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Armenia") [#12599],  [ID 3032]

"In 2002, a new prison hospital for prisoners infected with tuberculosis was opened. Its capacity was 220 patients but, as of the end of 2002, only 88 convicts with acute tuberculosis were cared for. The overall number of the diseased in prisons or colonies was about 300, most of whom underwent outpatient treatment. · On December 22, 21-year-old David Grigoryan died in one of the municipal hospitals of Yerevan, officially from hematogenous tuberculosis and meningoencephalitis. He had been held in the Kosh common regime colony. However, Grigoryan’s mother told the Helsinki Association that she had met her son on December 10 when he was in good health. She intended to ask authorities to initiate investigations into the death of her son. As of the end of 2002, three prisoners were known to be infected with AIDS. The metal blinds were removed in the investigation isolator of Nubarashen in 2002 and there were plans to do this in all the other isolators - however, lack of funds slowed down the work. The amnesty law provided that some prisoners could be released ahead of their term, but convicts claimed this was possible only by payment of about €500 to the director of the institutions. Social and psychological rehabilitation of the prisoners due to be released soon was not well developed, but a new, comprehensive program was to be launched soon in the Ministry of Justice with the creation of special departments in all the institutions to deal with the issue."

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Serious lack of proper health care in penitentiaries ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3033]

"The prison budget allowed for the daily expenses of about €1.3 per day and per prisoner (including food, electricity, etc.). Toilets in investigation isolators were situated in the cells, while in the colonies they were outside the barracks. There was no central heating in prisons, but the inmates were allowed to bring electric heaters to their cells. Floors in some cells were of asphalt. The inmates were allowed to shower once a week. The International Committee of the Red Cross pointed in 2002 to a serious lack of proper health care in penitentiaries which was due to the lack of sufficient funding, according to the Ministry of Justice."

Document(s): Open document

01.05.1997 - Source: British Helsinki Human Rights Group

Armenia 1997: Prisons and Mental Health Care ("Armenia 1997: Prisons and Mental Health Care") [#405],  [ID 3034]

Document(s): Open document