There is still a long way to go for Armenian authorities to ensure compliance with relevant international standards, according to a new report from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC). In addition to poor conditions of the majority of the facilities, there are also problems of lengthy pre-trial detentions and abusive interrogation techniques during police investigation. (24-FEB-05)

Photo: Gunnar M. Karlsen, NHC

According to several human rights reports, there have been some improvements of prisons conditions in Armenia in recent years. However, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee documents that the human rights situation in the country leaves a lot to be desired.

The report is based on 1-7 September 2003 and 28 August-5 September 2004 fact-finding missions. Gunnar M. Karlsen and Berit Lindeman wrote the report with contributions of Helge Blakkisrud.

Abusive
In addition to poor conditions of the majority of the facilities, there are also problems of lengthy pre-trial detentions and abusive interrogation techniques during police investigation. There is a provision in the Criminal Procedure Code that a suspect may be detained for no more than 12 months pending trial, but this provision is not always enforced in practice. There is no system of bail.

The present report summarises some of the Council of Europe critique of Armenia’s penitentiary system, and renders some of the responses by Armenian authorities to that critique. On this background, it presents some findings by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee during fact-finding missions to Armenia in 2003 and 2004.

Cooperate to reform
The report finally presents some recommendations to Armenian authorities related to further reform of the penitentiary system. A way to vitalise reforms, the authors argue, would be for Armenian authorities to enter into long term cooperation with prison authorities in countries which already have subjected their penitentiary systems to reforms in order to comply with international standards and have developed methods of socialising and developing personal skills of the inmates. This kind of cooperation should focus on establishing a plan of reforms containing realistic target goals given the available resources in the Armenian penitentiary
system.

Monitoring
Continued monitoring by both governmental and non-governmental actors is essential in ensuring further improvements. The Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) could play crucial roles in addressing violations, providing expertise and coordinating international support for prison reforms.

Download the report