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Main problems of convicts are related to medical services, commission decisions on early release (6.7%), cases of self-injury and suicide (4.8%), hunger strikes (4.8%) and nutrition (3.6%), of Prison Monitoring Group, Ruben Sargsyan presented such data during a discussion on “Protection of rights of persons deprived of liberty: review of the first 6 months of 2016”.

According to him, only a part of the problems has been solved.

During the first 6 months of 2016, the monitoring group organized 57 visits to prisons. The group had worked with 88 convicts during these visits.

Another member of the group, Sergey Gabrielyan said that the problems are more pressing among the vulnerable groups. “Among them, I should highlight the problems of those not subjected to higher circles of criminals, homosexuals, those having health problems”.

Member of Prison Monitoring Group, lawyer Robert Revazyan said that number one problem at prisons is the interpersonal relationships. “Those institutions are ruled by unwritten laws. In the meantime, the complaints of the prisoners are few”.

According to Mr. Revazyan, when a convicted person starts to complain about anything, he’s easily neutralized by higher criminal circles. He also noted that no changes have been recorded in this situation.
“Revolutionary changes should be introduced in our penitentiaries. No fundamental changes have been recorded over the years. The highest circles of the state should be involved in order to solve this problem,” the lawyer said.

Studying the problems at the penitentiaries, Mr. Revazyan concluded that the reason for few complaints against fellow prisoners and the staff members is the criminal subculture.