Detainees, arrestees to be medically examined in Armenia - bill 

ArmInfo. All persons detained and arrested in Armenia will have to undergo a medical examination. The RA National Assembly Committee on Defense and Security at its  session on March 20 issued a positive conclusion on the amendments to  the law "On the detention of detainees and arrested persons"  submitted by the government in the first reading.

As Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia  Armen Ghazaryan noted in his speech, the initiative is based on the  requirements of the UN Committee for the Prevention of Torture and  the cases against Armenia issued by the European Court of Human  Rights. The draft law stipulates that in all cases, upon delivery of  detainees and arrested persons to places of detention, they will  undergo a medical examination, and not upon recording of the injuries  received, as is currently the case. Detainees must undergo a medical  examination within three hours of their delivery to penal  institutions, and arrested persons - no later than 24 hours. At the  same time, detainees and arrested persons will be able to involve  their preferred doctor in the examination. Currently, this task is  provided to emergency doctors, and this opportunity will remain.  Ghazaryan noted that the UN Committee for the Prevention of Torture  assessed the involvement of emergency doctors as a positive practice.  Thus, as the Deputy Minister emphasized, a single standard of  detention will be applied to detainees and arrested persons and will  become an additional guarantee for the prevention of torture.

The document also establishes cases in which a doctor must draw up  protocols on the use of torture. This may happen if there is an  appeal from a detainee or arrested person, as well as cases of  violence identified by doctors, as well as appeals from employees of  penal institutions. The forms and types of protocols will be approved  based on the order of the Minister of Health. After their development  and approval, the country's investigative bodies must be notified of  this within no more than 24 hours. Notifications can be submitted  electronically.