Human Rights Defender Reveals New Details on Incident at Nubarashen Penitentiary

As previously reported, on April 3, a call was received on the Human Rights Defender's hotline regarding masked individuals physically assaulting life-sentenced prisoners at the "Nubarashen" penitentiary. This was announced by the Human Rights Defender.

Through continuous monitoring of social media and mass media, information was also received indicating that no medical assistance was provided to the prisoners.

Following the Defender's directive, a rapid response team was dispatched to the "Nubarashen" penitentiary to familiarize themselves with the issues raised on-site and to conduct private interviews with individuals deprived of their liberty.

During the visit, representatives of the Defender's office held private interviews with approximately 30 individuals deprived of their liberty, including life-sentenced and detained individuals, toured the cells, and reviewed the documents related to the imprisoned individuals.

During the interviews, some of the individuals deprived of their liberty reported to the Defender's representatives, among other things, that they were subjected to disproportionate physical force by officers of the penitentiary service's special forces division on the same day, that property in the cells was destroyed, and that they faced insults and abuse.

The deprived individuals insisted that it was not the mattress in the cells that was burned, but a single towel. Meanwhile, the representatives of the Defender's office documented the bodily injuries of the deprived individuals. It was also noted that medical assistance is being provided to those deprived of their liberty, including an X-ray examination performed for two individuals due to suspected injuries.

The information and issues documented during the visit are currently being summarized. Clarifications will be requested from the relevant state authorities regarding these matters.