More deaths in Armenia`s penitentiary institutions - journalist 

ArmInfo.  Due to the inaction of the heads of penitentiary services, the Ministry of Justice, and other responsible bodies, Armenia is seeing an increase in prison deaths. Journalist Roza Vardanyan has reported this on her Facebook page.

She noted that 20 deaths have been recorded in penitentiary  institutions (PCIs) over the past 11 months and warned that this  number could increase if the state does not begin to address the  fates of prisoners.  According to Vardanyan, Suren Muradyan, who is  in Armavir Prison, risks becoming the 21st prisoner to commit suicide  due to the inaction of the responsible authorities. "The 42-year-old  man's right side is completely weakened, he suffers severe pain, his  arm moves irregularly, and he frequently loses consciousness. Due to  doctor-patient confidentiality, I cannot provide further details.  During his 1.5-year imprisonment, Suren has been assisted by his  roommate with food and hygiene," the journalist reported.

She also noted that in early September, Suren was taken for a  forensic examination to assess the compatibility of his health with  the conditions of detention. However, as Vardanyan noted, there has  been no response to the request for two months, and Muradyan's pain  has become even more unbearable. "The situation at court hearings  deteriorates to the point that ambulances are periodically required.  On October 31, I sent a request to the Armenian Ministry of Health,  and on November 5, to my question, which required three lengthy  responses, I received a five-line reply stating that 'the body  conducting the proceedings has been duly informed of this.'  Meanwhile, neither Suren, nor his lawyer, nor the Prosecutor General,  nor the court staff hearing the case have received a response  regarding the examination results," Vardanyan added.

In response to this situation, the journalist appealed to the  Minister of Justice, Srbuhi Galyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol  Pashinyan, and the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan,  demanding their response, reminding them that they are responsible  for the life of prisoner Suren Muradyan.

As a reminder, as of July 2025, 16 deaths had already been recorded  in Armenian prisons, six of which were suicides. As Garnik Danielyan,  a member of the opposition "Armenia" faction in the National Assembly  of the Republic of Armenia, noted, the deplorable conditions in  Armenia's penal institutions have led to the increase in prison  mortality. Most often, as the MP noted, despite acute health problems  and numerous complaints, prisoners are not transferred to a medical  facility, they are not provided with adequate medical care, and there  is also a shortage of medications. He also drew attention to the lack  of basic living conditions, sanitary and hygienic conditions, water  quality, and adequate medical care in penal institutions. Following  this, the media reported suicides in penal institutions. The most  recent such report appeared about two weeks ago.