Incidents Recorded at Gyumri Care Center Involving Alcohol Use by Residents

Numerous incidents and crimes have been recorded at the 24-hour care center of the Armenian Red Cross Society in Gyumri during 2021. The Prosecutor's Office reports that on April 5, 2021, a 59-year-old resident of the center was transported to the Gyumri Medical Center for treatment due to an open wound from a right elbow joint amputation, alcohol intoxication, and self-harm.

According to the investigation, the individual was alone in their room that day, consumed alcohol, and subsequently self-harmed with a razor, after which they received first aid and were taken to the medical facility. According to a report from the Gyumri Mental Health Center, this individual had been registered at the center’s narcological dispensary with a diagnosis of “mental and behavioral disorder due to alcohol dependence syndrome.”

Additionally, on August 22, in response to a call received by the Kumayri Police Department from the care center, it was determined that two residents with mobility issues had consumed several glasses of alcohol in the same room. A dispute arose between them regarding household matters, particularly regarding which staff member should assist them first in moving to the restroom. During the altercation, one of them struck the other with a wooden cane, causing moderate bodily harm.

This indicates that residents at the center have been keeping and using alcoholic beverages. According to the care center’s regulations, residents are prohibited from consuming alcohol. This fact was neglected by the responsible authorities of the care center, which, particularly in the second incident, led to an unfortunate event in conjunction with the mobility issue.

Furthermore, an investigation initiated based on a police report on July 22, 2021, revealed that a male resident of the center had assaulted a female resident due to a domestic dispute in his room, causing injuries that did not qualify as significant physical harm. The criminal case was also denied in this case due to the absence of the complainant.

In all three cases, decisions were made to refuse the initiation of criminal proceedings: the first due to lack of a criminal incident, and the others due to lack of complaint from the complainant.

There have also been numerous cases where residents, facing mobility difficulties, lost balance and fell, sustaining bodily injuries while out of the care center staff's attention.

The review of incidents recorded at the Gyumri 24-hour care center of the Armenian Red Cross Society indicates a recent increase in certain incidents, resulting from a weakening of adherence to regulatory requirements, insufficient oversight by responsible personnel, and a lack of adequate care in instances for individuals already facing challenging life situations. These factors can create conditions conducive to the commission of crimes and lead to undesirable, potentially severe consequences for both the residents of the center and the caregivers or staff.

Taking these circumstances into account, the Shirak region prosecutor has sent a letter to the president of the Armenian Red Cross Society to discuss the causes of the incidents at the Gyumri 24-hour care center and to undertake effective measures to prevent similar occurrences, as well as to address the disciplinary responsibilities of the employees who may have failed to fulfill their obligations.