Session of Public Council adjunct to Minister of Justice was held

On 3 August, the subsequent session of the Public Council adjunct to the Minister of Justice was held under the chairmanship of Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Artak Zeynalyan. The issues included in the agenda referred to the problems of persons in custody with contact and communication with the external world and the possible paths for settling non-statutory relations at penitentiary institutions. President of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office Artur Sakunts and President of the "Social Justice" NGO Arshak Gasparyan delivered speeches on the mentioned issues. Head of the Department for Drafting Anti-Corruption and Penitentiary Policies of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Karen Hakobyan also participated in the meeting.

Minister Zeynalyan greeted the participants of the session and noted that the Ministry of Justice expects to develop relevant regulations and clear mechanisms for the solution to the problems, taking into consideration the limits of communication of persons in custody with the external world.

The members of the Council also, among other recommendations, recommended applying the institute for incentives in the form of video call or outdoor meetings near penitentiary institutions which, according to their studies, is rather common in CIS countries.

Karen Hakobyan informed the members of the Council that the practice of applying incentives existed in Armenia as well; whereas in the past only foreigners could benefit from the opportunity of a video call, starting from November, all persons in custody will have that opportunity.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached to submit the recommendations made during the session and their legal regulations to the Ministry of Justice in writing as well.