[prisoner-rights] Council of Europe anti-torture committee publishes its first report on Armenia

Strasbourg, 28.07.2004 – The Council of Europe’s Committee for the
Prevention of Torture (CPT) has today published its first report on
Armenia, following a visit to the country in October 2002.

In the report, the CPT concludes that people detained by the police in
Armenia run a significant risk of being ill-treated. The Commitee
therefore recommends that a high priority be given to professional
training for police officers, including in modern investigation
techniques.

The report also draws attention to overcrowding in prisons and the
shortage of activities for inmates. Furthermore, the CPT calls for urgent
steps to improve the conditions in which people sentenced to life
imprisonment are being held at Nubarashen Prison, and highlights major
deficiencies at Nubarashen Republican Psychiatric Hospital.

In their official responses to the report, the Armenian authorities refer
to measures which have been taken to improve police training and to step
up the control of police activities. The authorities also announce a
reduction of the prison population, following the adoption of a new
Criminal Code, and highlight measures aimed at improving conditions at the
Nubarashen facilities.

The CPT report and the responses of the Armenian Government have been made
public with the agreement of the Armenian authorities. They are all
available on the CPT’s website: www.cpt.coe.int


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