In the first quarter of 2025, 8 deaths were registered in Armenian penitentiaries, 4 of which were suicide. The last death took place on March 17 in "Artik" penitentiary institution. According to the penitentiary service, 12 deaths were registered in 2024, which were all qualified as biological deaths, 10 of whom died in civilian hospitals.
Toghik Aleksanyan, Head of the Social, Psychological and Legal Works Department of the Ministry of Justice of the Ministry of Justice of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, noted that these cases are subject to thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the multi-layering of cases.
"It will not be right to do any reason or assumption about suicide cases. And on the final causes that will be established in accordance with the procedure established by law, only the body conducting the proceedings will have the opportunity to comment, "said Tsaghik Aleksanyan.
Zara Hovhannisyan, a member of the group of public monitoring groups in penitentiaries and bodies of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, pointed out the difficulties related to the people who entered closed institutions. "When a person appears in a crisis situation, it is very important to provide clear social work to help him," he said.
The human rights activist stressed the most important shortcomings of social, legal and psychological support within the system, including the lack of psychologists and the stigma of looking for psychological assistance.
"Criminal subculture in penitentiaries creates obstacles to support, which contributes to self-harm and suicide," Hovhannisyan said.
In addition, the expert expressed concern over the compliance of health services in penitentiaries, "people have health problems, which are deteriorating in the penitentiary institution, in addition, there are problems with rapid response."
Naira Babayan, head of the Department of Medical Aid of the Center for Penitentiary Medicine Center of the Ministry of Health, said that most biological deaths occurred in the sudden cases of cardiovascular cases. Babayan also touched upon the cases when the delays in court hearings have contributed to the premature death of those waiting for medical care.
"There are people with chronic diseases that meet the criteria defined by the government's 825 decision, which lists the list of diseases that the interdepartmental commissions have given relevant conclusions, but the person has died due to the delay of court hearings," he said.
"The increase in the number of deaths in penitentiaries is alarming immediate reforms," Zara Hovhannisyan thinks. He emphasizes the need for mechanisms, which consider urgency in the healthcare sector and social assistance within the system.
"In just three months, the situation in 8 deaths is unprecedented and an alarm to review our socio-psychological approaches in penitentiaries," he said.
As the number of detainees in penitentiaries continues to exceed the number of convicts, Hovhannisyan calls on the government to develop more clear strategies to meet these challenges.
