What Conditions Armen Grigoryan Was Held Under in Armavir Penitentiary - Zara Hovhannisyan

Armen Grigoryan was held in Armavir Penitentiary. The first issue here is the conditions of detention,” said human rights defender Zara Hovhannisyan during a discussion on the topic “How Inmates’ Rights to Access Medical Services Are Protected,” reflecting on the death case of producer Armen Grigoryan.

“Armavir Penitentiary was built relatively recently, meaning it is not a Soviet-era legacy; it was constructed during the time of previous authorities. It was built in a very poor location: it is damp, extremely cold in winter, and very hot in summer. It was constructed with total violations of construction norms since there is no ventilation system,” noted the human rights defender.

“Imagine being in a cell for at least 23 hours during this summer heat when the temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius. They only get one hour of outdoor time, and that is almost entirely under the sun,” she emphasized.