Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenia’s Ministry of Justice refuses to investigate individual cases of offenses discovered by the Public Observers Group, but rather, favors discussing only general mechanisms and reforms, said RA Ministry of Justice adviser Nikolai Arustamyan today at a discussion on pressing reports presented by the group monitoring penal institutions and the state of prisoners in the country.
Arustamyan also criticized the Public Observers Group’s activities, saying that members are raising issues that are not under their jurisdiction.
“The 2009 and 2010 reports were formalities. The formality has reached such a level that many issues are simply copied then pasted in each annual report. It’s not appropriate to assume the role of teaching the ministry,” he noted.
The ministry adviser also urged those present not to forget that the group was created by the Ministry of Justice and not at the behest of international agencies, thus the ministry has an interest in its effectiveness — though it would be more appropriate not to make the discussion public, he said.
In response, head of the Public Observers Group Artur Sakunts (pictured) said the issues are repeated year after year because the ministry hasn’t yet addressed them.
Avetik Ishkhanyan, another member of the observers’ group, said actually the group wasn’t created as an adjunct body to the minister. He also pointed out that the situation in the penal institutions hasn’t changed — according to not only the observers’ group, but also international agencies, such as, for example, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).