After the Ombudsman’s Visit, Kocharian Provided with a Computer in His Cell

The Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan has presented the 2018 report to the National Assembly of Armenia, which also addresses the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian.

The report specifically mentions that immediately after Robert Kocharian's arrest, the Human Rights Defender visited the "Yerevan-Kentron" penitentiary of the Ministry of Justice and met with Kocharian.

During both his first and second periods of detention, Robert Kocharian did not express any complaints regarding the treatment by the staff of the penitentiary.

During a private conversation with his defender, the second President raised questions about having a computer in his cell, the legality of the restrictions placed on all his property, including his pension account, as well as the bans on visits and phone conversations with close relatives, including family members.

In connection with these issues, the Defender initiated a detailed study, and as a result, proposals aimed at lifting these restrictions, along with relevant legal analyses, have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Special Investigation Service.

With the Defender's intervention, Robert Kocharian was provided with a computer in his cell without internet access. The ban on visits and phone conversations with close relatives has been partially lifted by the proceeding authority. The ban remains only concerning one close relative who holds the procedural status of a witness in the criminal case.

The restriction on Robert Kocharian's pension account has also been lifted.