ArmInfo. The "Kosh" and "Hrazdan" penitentiary institutions will be closed. The corresponding decision was approved at the meeting of the Armenian government on October 28.
According to Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan, the decision will save budget funds in the amount of 1 billion 200 million drams in 2022. "But this decision is not only about saving money, it will lay the foundation for further reforms in the penitentiary institutions system," he said. According to the minister, by reducing 2 of the 12 currently operating penitentiaries, it will be possible to optimize the work in these institutions and ensure not only the appropriate conditions for the stay of prisoners there, but also the proper implementation of human rights.
At the same time, according to the head of the Ministry of Justice, as a result of the current optimization, 280 staff units will be reduced. This, as indicated, will also allow the application of the vetting provisions in the system. "Of these 280 people, 70 will be transferred to work in other penitentiary institutions, 50 - to the Probation Service, and the rest will remain in the personnel reserve," Andreasyan said.
According to the decision, within 10 days a commission will be formed to organize the process, and within two months the staff units of the penitentiary institutions will be reduced, if necessary, by distributing employees to other institutions. It is noted that until January 2022, the distribution of prisoners to other institutions should be ensured, in accordance with the degree of their isolation. The reason for the closure is the poor conditions in the aforementioned prisons.