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‘The issues present in the sphere are multilayered. They go to the first years of establishment of soviet regime by their roots. They carry almost all negative things of the soviet prison system; highlight some negative elements of the western prison systems’ stated the RA Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmasyan during the enlarged parliamentary sessions on November 20 regarding the conditions of human rights in penitentiary institutions and police detention places.

According to the Minister the issues of overload, bad building conditions, absence of socio-psychological and medical service, low level of involvement, absence of probation service, low level of alternative penalty enforcement, lack of qualified specialists and the change of attitude towards people paying a penalty.

H. Tovmasyan added that he said about that in January 2011 after a month or month and a half after assuming the position of the Minister of Justice. Back then the newly appointed Minister highlighted that in comparison with notary and civil status acts registration service, rapid reforms in the sector of penitentiary institutions service are very risky ‘with respect to the contingent which they concern’, i.e. those sentenced to imprisonment. ‘Not a single state in the world made revolutionary changes in the prison system’ said the Minister adding that it is possible to reach certain changes in this sphere ‘step by step and proportionally’.

The Minister of Justice asked ‘to be a little bit careful’ when talking about the people in imprisonment considering that ‘there are orphan children on the other side, raped young boys and girls’ other victims. Even though personally for the Minister the feelings of the victims that suffered from the actions of the convicts are clear, nevertheless he is willing to ‘see in each prisoner a person who can return to normal life, become a good husband, father, why not, a defender of our borders’.

‘I am ready as a Minister to hear critics regarding the issues existent in the sector, the part of which or big part of which or the most part of which is conditioned with the lack of proper material resources. But I am not ready to be part of the government, which lost at least 1 square meter of land as a result of improper financing of the Ministry of Defence’ stated H. Tovmasyan adding that this principle is taken basis for deciding on priorities.