22 Deaths Recorded in Correctional Facilities in 2025: Concerning Statistics

The Center for Legal Initiatives is deeply concerned about the alarming rise in deaths recorded in Armenia's correctional facilities, particularly suicide cases. According to official data, 22 deaths were registered in 2025, of which 8 were classified as suicides by the Correctional Service. These figures indicate systemic issues within the correctional system, relating to a management crisis, inadequate access to socio-psychological and healthcare services, and insufficient human resources.

The statement from the Center for Legal Initiatives specifically notes that as of October 1, 2025, there are 2,836 individuals held in 10 Armenia’s correctional facilities, including 1,441 awaiting trial and 1,395 convicted individuals. A simple comparison of these numbers shows that a significant portion of the imprisoned individuals are those awaiting trial. Despite legislative opportunities for the application of alternative preventive measures expanding considerably in recent years, courts essentially continue to prefer detention as the primary preventive measure.

This trend not only violates the principle of ‘deprivation of liberty as a last resort’ but also overburdens the correctional system, adversely affecting the quality and accessibility of healthcare and socio-psychological services. While significant overcrowding issues have not been recorded in correctional facilities in recent years, the continuous increase in the number of detainees may lead to congestion in individual cells. Overcrowding in cells can cause not only delayed diagnosis or treatment of chronic illnesses but also the emergence of new diseases and exacerbation of existing health issues.

The steady increase in the number of convicts may be supported by the ineffective application of mechanisms for early release from punishment. In this context, the inefficacy of releasing detainees and convicts based on health conditions should also be considered. The increase in the number of imprisoned individuals means that the same number of specialists—psychologists, social workers, healthcare workers, etc.—are required to work with a larger number of individuals. This can lead to professional burnout and fatigue among these specialists, delayed responses to risky situations, inadequate supervision over individuals with risky behaviors or health problems, and delays or limited accessibility to professional support and services.

These factors, including the preference for detention as a primary preventive measure, the numerical increase of imprisoned individuals in this context, and the ineffective application of mechanisms for releasing from detention or punishment, may contribute to an increase in deaths and suicides in correctional facilities.