«They Probably Want to Bring Us to Liquidation»: Lawyer of the Psychiatric Home-Internat

As we have already reported, dozens of employees of the "Psychiatric Home-Internat" in the town of Vardenis, Gegharkunik Province, held a protest in front of the Vardenis Police Department.

Recall that yesterday the director of the internat, a psychiatrist, a duty caregiver, and a duty nurse were arrested for a number of abuses.

In an interview with NEWS.am, the lawyer of the home-internat, Stepan Davtyan, stated that the arrests and charges are illegal. "There are several contradictions. We have demanded factual data. We spoke with the head of the Vardenis Internal Affairs Department, but, in essence, clear answers were not provided. However, we stated that if we do not receive answers to our questions by tomorrow morning at 10 am, we will go on strike as a whole... They probably want to bring us to liquidation. The only psychiatrist we have, under whose instruction the 450 patients of the institution receive medication, has been arrested; this cannot go on for long. It seems to be an order, everything is pre-organized," emphasized Stepan Davtyan.

Recall that during the inspection of the home-internat, it was revealed that the bed of one of the residents, its mattress, was thrown on the floor in front of the heating batteries, and a piece of fabric belt was fastened around the patient’s abdomen, connected to a metal chain attached to the heating batteries. Additionally, one of the residents had their hands and feet tied to the four corners of the bed while lying on their back.

It was recorded in the dining room of one of the departments what type of food was provided to the residents. On the same day, originals of the necessary documents regarding the distribution of food and cigarettes were seized from the state institution.

Preliminary information has been obtained during the investigation that the mentioned actions against the residents of the home-internat were carried out at the instruction of the psychiatrist, of which the director was also aware. The director of the state institution, the psychiatrist, a duty caregiver, and a duty nurse have been arrested and presented to the prosecuting authority.

A criminal proceeding has been initiated under Article 256, Part 2, Point 2, Article 188, Part 2, Points 2 and 3, Article 435, Part 1 (in 7 episodes), Article 436, Part 1 (in 7 episodes), and Article 450, Part 2, Point 4.