Epress.am News from Armenia
Alerted by the Helsinki Association for Human Rights, members of a group that monitors prisons visited Tavros Voskanyan, an inmate at Nubarashen Penitentiary on hunger strike since Jan. 31, listened to the prisoner's complaint, then contacted the deputy chief of the solitary confinement section. This was conveyed to Epress.am by Voskanyan's representative, Helsinki Association attorney Gayane Khachatryan.
"Voskanyan said that he has health issues, and so that they are properly treated, he wants to be moved to a civilian hospital and he is willing to pay for it. After visiting the prisoner, the group's members met with the deputy chief of the institution, who said he's not opposed and they'll give permission when the necessary agreements for treatment are obtained," said the attorney.
Voskanyan, nevertheless, is still on hunger strike. Voskanyan's health issues are the reason for the hunger strike. Because of foreign bodies in his stomach, the inmate experiences acute pain, he can't eat normally, but he's not getting the proper treatment.
The medical staff at Nubarashen Penitentiary has treated the patient to the extent of their abilities, but to no avail. "Voskanyan requires hospitalization and surgery, which is possible through the Hospital for Prisoners or in a civilian hospital," said Khachatryan.
Back in November 2013, Helsinki Association President Mikael Danielyan contacted the Penitentiary Service of the RA Ministry of Justice, requesting Voskanyan receive proper treatment. He received the following reply: "Considering the likelihood of foreign bodies leaving the body through natural means, daily dynamic supervision has been set for prisoner Tavros Voskanyan. If the foreign bodies do not leave through natural means or in the case of acute surgical pathology, there will be surgical intervention."
After this receiving this response, the Helsinki Association contacted the RA Minister of Justice, who, according to Khachtryan, refused to vouchsafe a response to the organization's request.
Voskanyan is accused of theft. Earlier, his wife, Armine Poghosyan, informed Epress.am that the police put pressure on her to convince her husband to write a confession. Poghosyan was pregnant at the time and her husband was forced to comply with the police officers' demand, after which his wife was allowed to go home.