Opportunity for communication via video call being created for persons at penitentiary institutions

Foreign detained persons or convicts, whose close relatives cannot visit them, as well as those detained persons or convicts whose close relatives cannot benefit from short visits, are provided with an opportunity to make a video call twice a month and for up to 20 minutes.

Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia No 1599-N "On making an amendment and supplements to Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia No 1543-N of 3 August 2006" — developed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and adopted on 6 July 2017 by the Government of the Republic of Armenia — shall enter into force from 1 November 2018; as a result of the co-operation between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and "Red Cross" international organisation, relevant technical equipment has already been installed at "Vardashen" and "Nubarashen" Penitentiary Institutions for testing, and the system of video call has been put into operation; through the system of video call, persons at the penitentiary institutions have the opportunity to enjoy the right to video call. At the same time, repair works are being carried out in the relevant room of "Abovyan" Penitentiary Institution, and technical equipment necessary for video calls will also be installed at that penitentiary institution in the next few days.

For the purpose of ensuring that the requirements of the Decision are met, an agreement was reached with "Red Cross" international organisation according to which all the penitentiary institutions of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia will be provided with necessary technical equipments by 1 November 2018 for the purpose of organising video calls.