Responsible Authority for 'Special Operation' Must Provide Some Clarification

A woman who called me shared details about the torture her husband endured in the 'Nubarashen' penitentiary by masked individuals. This was reported on the Facebook page of NA Prosperous Armenia faction member Naira Zohrabyan.

'If what the woman told me is true regarding the brutal beating her husband and his cellmates experienced, then this is beyond lawlessness. I am unaware of any legitimate democracy that is established through violence and humiliation,' she stated.

The spokesperson for the Penitentiary Service clarified that unplanned searches are periodically conducted in penitentiary institutions in accordance with the law, involving special unit officers with the aim of finding prohibited items and objects in cells. It was added that penitentiary employees are authorized to use physical force and special means in cases where legal demands are not met or obstructed. In short, they do not deny that people have been beaten,' Zohrabyan wrote, further noting that such unplanned 'raids' have occurred not only in the 'Nubarashen' penitentiary but in several other correctional facilities as well.

'Relatives of the beaten individuals have been informed that their convict is a carrier of criminal subculture and has been punished within the framework of criminal subculture. I once again opened the draft law on criminal subculture, read it again, and didn’t see any line stating that the most effective means to eliminate criminal subculture from prisoners is to beat them with masks and batons,' Zohrabyan emphasized, underscoring that violence has not resolved nor will it ever resolve any issues.

'I believe that besides clarification that special forces have the right to apply force and special means, the responsible authority for the 'special operation' must provide some 'clarification' on what orders are being disobeyed that justify beating detainees with batons,' the MP noted, adding that international partners also seek clarification.