More than 50 prisoners on hunger strike in Vanadzor penitentiary

In the Vanadzor penitentiary, the atmosphere has not stabilized for a considerable time now. A series of hunger strikes, self-harm incidents, and other forms of protest have emerged for various reasons. This time, 53 individuals held in the facility have announced a hunger strike. This was reported by Factinfo.

Nona Navikyana, head of the public relations department of the Armenian Ministry of Justice’s penitentiary service, informed Factinfo that on February 27, 53 prisoners in the Vanadzor penitentiary declared a hunger strike, citing the conditions of their detention as their reason. However, Navikyana noted that their actual demands are illegal. In particular, they are demanding that the food transfer door be kept open, that items be passed between prisoners in different cells, and that they be allowed to wear civilian clothes, which is prohibited by the internal regulations of penitentiary institutions.

It is noteworthy that earlier in the same penitentiary, 30 detainees and convicted individuals had gone on hunger strike, while three others reported self-harm, one of whom harmed his hand with a razor, and another swallowed a metal ring. The reason for this protest was said to be the cleaning works that uncovered prohibited items. Additionally, it was recently revealed that a prisoner in the same facility sewed his mouth shut while demanding to be transferred to another penitentiary. The penitentiary service has reported that he has since been moved. Another individual, who also sewed his mouth shut, was protesting the investigation of his criminal case.