Tuesday, August 21 2018 13:42

ArmInfo.. The tradition of violent gambling games in places of deprivation of liberty has been suspended, Minister of Justice of Armenia Artak Zeynalyan announced  on August 21 at a press conference dedicated to 100 days activities of the new government.

He noted that it is almost impossible to completely exclude all  opportunities for gambling in the detention places. "The problem is  that people can play on anything and completely eradicate this  phenomenon is almost impossible. Of course, playing cards,  backgammon, etc. are confiscated however, it is not always possible  to confiscate everything. But a positive shift is that compulsory  gambling has been suspended, we are developing a plan of various  events so that the prisoners have some occupation, some work, so that  they do not spend their free time on gambling.

The Minister of Justice also noted that in the near future  departments will be established in the medical institutions of  Armenia where prisoners will be treated. "Since there are some  diseases that can not be treated in places of deprivation of liberty,  we have made decision that henceforth some patients will be able to  undergo treatment in the medical institutions of Armenia", the  Minister stressed.  Zeynalyan also touched upon the problem of  overcrowding in prisons. The minister assured that at the moment the  problem related to illegal payments for prison cells and beds, has  been solved. "I want to assure that at the moment all prisoners have  their own beds, this problem has been solved, however, the prisons  are really crowded and we are now busy building a new penitentiary,  we also need to improve the conditions in the prisons of Goris,  Armavir and other regions. We also build new hospitals in the  penitentiaries and constantly improve the conditions in places of  deprivation of liberty, "the Minister stressed.

Zeynalyan also touched upon the issue of nutrition of prisoners. The  Minister stressed that in recent years, food in places of detention  has become much better. "We closely monitor the quality of food in  penitentiaries, the quality of meat, canned food." Recently I visited  penitentiary in Armavir and I watched the conditions in the kitchen,  as well as the process of cooking food. In general, the indicators  are now satisfactory, but we intend to further improve quality of  food for prisoners, "Artak Zeynalyan said.

The Minister of Justice also touched upon the problem of parole. "An  unprecedented figure of parole was recorded in Armenia, 387 reports  were filed, of which 192 people refused to file an application to the  court, 228 cases were heard in the courts, 84 were satisfied, 144  were refused," Zeynalyan said.  The Minister of Justice also stressed  that the Ministry of Justice received 160 petitions for pardon. "I  want to emphasize that 115 applications have already been sent to the  Prime Minister's office," Zeynalyan said.

Summarizing 100 days of work Artak Zeynalyan touched upon one more  issue, which concerned deaths in places of imprisonment. The Minister  noted that the suicide rate in Armenia is much lower than in many  other more developed countries. "However, I do not think that this is  a fact to be proud of, I believe that as long as there are suicides  in prisons, we have much to do." We must create such conditions in  which there will be no suicides, "he said.

In conclusion Zeynalyan touched upon the probation service. The  Minister stressed that today, unfortunately, probation in Armenia is  at a rather low level, however, at the moment the ministry's  employees are working towards this end. "We intend to produce  bracelets in Armenia, or to import them from abroad that will show  the location of one or another convict. This is very convenient,  because, first, many will be able to avoid imprisonment, which will  certainly solve the problem of overcrowding and secondly, we will be  able to take other measures of punishment, in addition to  imprisonment, for example, house arrest, "the Minister concluded.