Pashinyan’s Rights in Prison are ‘Seriously Violated’: Report

Artur Sakunts, head of the group of observers monitoring RA Ministry of Justice penal institutions and bodies, and group member Edmond Marukyan shared with journalists today the urgent report addressed and sent to the RA Minister of Justice.

The report is dedicated to addressing the rights of imprisoned journalist Nikol Pashinyan, currently serving his sentence at Artik prison, to have contact with the outside world, to correspondence and to submitting appeals through the penitentiary’s administration.

After examining the problems related to Pashinyan’s correspondence and appeals, the group of observers came to the conclusion that the imprisoned journalist’s rights are seriously being violated.

Numerous examples are listed in the report outlining on what basis Pashinyan’s letters are not reaching their destination. The group noted that Pashinyan’s letters are being refused to be registered at the appropriate register, after which Artik prison administration explains that Pashinyan didn’t give them any letters for them to then send.

According to Sakunts. only those letters of Pashinyan’s which are recorded in the presence of a member from the group of observers or from an international agency reach their destination.

However, Sakunts affirmed that they also didn’t allow Pashinyan’s last letter addressed to him to be sent.

The urgent report notes that group members expect a response from the justice ministry in three days.

Sakunts said, however, that hasn’t happened, which is why they decided to hold a press conference to address the issue.